UMi’s 20th anni. celebrations to create a fashion stir
For the Management of UMi they are at the juncture where they will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary as one of the successful businesses especially in the fashion industry of the Virgin Islands and for Ms Deborah O'Neal, owner of UMi Fashions, it is a milestone worthy of a gala celebration.
The month of April 2014 marks 20 years of existence of the fashion establishment that one can safely say is 2nd to none in the Virgin Islands as according to Ms O’Neal they have seen the people of the VI transcend to a place of levelling with the rest of the fashion conscious countries of the world.
UMi has been in business since 1994 having opened their doors at the onset in the Acara Building with the goal of transforming lives through fashion. “For us the goal continues,” said Ms O’Neal in retrospect as she sat for an exclusive interview with Virgin Islands News Online.
She vividly recalled that mint green suit that was purchased by their very first customer, Ms Alice Pickering, someone who 20 years later still walks into the doors of UMi as a loyal customer. “For the people in the BVI when we first open our doors it was something totally different because the main thing that we stood on was fashion shows that involved people in the community, faces that they were familiar with,” said Ms O’Neal.
Describing the 20 years of existence with not one day dropping their standards, Ms O’Neal said it has been a very rough ride but one definitely they would trade for nothing. “We love it and we plan to continue doing it, doing more, believe me we have a lot more in store,” she noted.
Crediting the successes of her life, the management and upkeep of UMi Fashion to the Lord Jesus Christ Ms O’Neal said, “He sets the pace for everything. We have been fortunate to have had a team of people around us that are one of the best. In addition we have been blessed with some of the best customers ever, we are just grateful that our customers are a part of the UMi movement.”
The Elements of ‘Surprise, Surprise and Surprises’
The creative minds of the UMi team have pooled to come up with some of the most unique and creative initiatives to mark the 20th Anniversary celebrations starting April 1, 2014. These are said to be filled to the brim with the elements of ‘Surprise, Surprise, and Surprises’.
Sitting with the celebration team was one that created a picture that took you out into a new realm, thinking “where did these creations come from?” To kick start the month the team would be joined in heart and spirit as they in Unisom pray for God’s continued guidance and blessing over them and for the open minds and pockets of their existing and prospective customers.
The physical celebrations would be kick started with a gala cocktail hour on April 1, 2014 for loyal customers but the grand kick off involving all and sundry in the VI will be on April 4, 2014 with the first elements of surprise. “This would be a surprise in every true sense in that it’s something the people of the BVI would not fathom or expect not in a single bit of figment of their imagination,” said renowned international Fashion Model Mr Michael J. Calabro. He has grown into the UMI fashion family and has been credited for the playing a pivotal in the growth and trendiness of the business since his first interaction some five years ago. “At 5:00pm would be the kick off the 1st element of surprise.”
“Every day of the month is going to be something special, so many things that are going to take place that we cannot say at this stage because persons would find themselves establishing overnight camps in front of the store and while it would be a beautiful sight we wouldn’t want them to go that extreme,” Mr Calabro told this news site.
On April 9, 2014 will be the Caribbean Fashion Culture Collide (CFCC) “the main goal of that is to celebration the fashion of the different culture and you know the BVI is made of a vast cross section of cultures and peoples of the world especially the Caribbean,” he said.
The finals of the Battle of the Corps will be featured on April 11, 2014 where BVI Electricity Company puts on a fierce challenge against BVI Social Security.
On April 19, 2014 is the event titled the Rhythm and Style Grand fashion show where all the models would who have appeared on the UMi fashion show from year one to present would all be back to put on a spectacle. “There would be another element of surprise at that show,” Mr Calabro said.
In addition, throughout the month there would be an Instagram competition and daily give-aways.
Letting just a little tip of the cat’s tail out the bag to one of the surprises, he said, “Just keep your eyes every single day of the month on the UMi Water Front, Road Town store windows as they would change two times and when that change occurs you NEED to be in the store…much said just remember that it’s an element of surprise but tell a neighbour, tell a friend and you be there.”
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