Such was the excitement at being invited to participate in the Anguilla Fashion Expo 2016 that VIslander Markita Turnbull-Smith was 'literally jumping up and down.' Photo: Provided

According to Ms Markita Turnbull-Smith, the Anguilla Fashion Expo can expect from her fresh, trendy, fashion forward, beautiful designs 'that will be melting the runway.' Photo: Provided

The Anguilla Fashion Expo, which brings to life Anguilla's passion, flare, zeal and innovative fashion industry encapsulated with its cultural content, will kick start on February 26, 2016. The fashion show will look to feature over 30 designers and models from across the region. Photo: caribseek.com

One of the designs by talented Virgin Islands designer Ms Markita Turnbull-Smith. Photo: Provided

Another work of Ms Markita Turnbull-Smith. Photo: Provided

Turnbull-Smith of Menen-I Designs was confirmed by the Anguilla Fashion Expo Committee as its first designer for the February 2016 fashion show.

The Expo, which brings to life Anguilla's passion, flare, zeal and innovative fashion industry encapsulated with its cultural content, will kick start February 26, 2016. The fashion show will look to feature over 30 designers and models from across the region.

This venture, according to a press release from the Anguilla Fashion Expo Committee, has opened the doorway for exposure in Anguilla's fashion arena, granting the opportunity for local and regional designers to showcase their talent, enthusiasm and love for what they do. “As such Markita Turnbull-Smith is one of the first to answer the call on this venture,” the press release stated.

Overly excited!

“I felt overly excited when I got the invite. I was literally jumping up and down. The Expo can expect fresh, trendy, fashion forward, beautiful designs that will be melting the runway,” an enthused Turnbull-Smith told Virgin Islands News Online.

This news site had featured Ms Turnbull-Smith as one of its Young Professionals on May 29, 2015.

She had related how she dared to abandon her pursuit of a business degree because it was not what she wanted and in the end has become a successful fashion designer doing what she loves and what she basically taught herself to do.

Turnbull-Smith said following her passion for fashion, she found herself watching online video tutorials on designing and she was able to learn a great deal about fashion to the point where she started putting on her own shows.

“I am self-taught. I thought myself how to make clothes, how to crochet, how to knit…using YouTube and various tutorials online and also books, but that is my knowledge base basically,” she said. “Once there is easy access to learn how to do it I would learn how to do it, whether I would use it now or not, I make sure that I have the knowledge,” she had said.

Working a regular nine to five job at Harney’s as a Research Officer gives her the time to pursue her real passion on her spare time. She has her own fashion show which she has done for the past four years and she has taken part in BVI Summer Sizzle 2014. In May, she took part in the BVI Exquisite Boat Show where some of her designs were featured during a fashion show segment of the event.

According to the press release from the Anguilla Fashion Expo Committee, Ms Turnbull-Smith has been designing for over 8 years and that her reputation perceives her as some of her designs were this year featured in the [British] Virgin Island's Exquisite Boat Show and were also published in the October 2015 issue of the CARIBBEAN POSH magazine.

“However, Turnbull-Smith is no stranger to having her designs featured in a magazine as her designs were featured in the October 2013 issue of POSE magazine in New York, after she won the first annual Fashion VI Link Expose Competition in St. Croix,” the press release stated.