Designovators Ltd evolved from an idea that a group of talented Trinidad and Tobago fashion sector stakeholders felt would offer designers from new world fashion countries, in particular in the Caribbean, Latin America, Pacific and African regions, an opportunity to 'go global' using the latest in technology.
The idea was developed into a comprehensive business plan that was circulated amongst a small group of potential 'Angel Investors'. Within a couple of days all the shares had been allocated and the commercialization of Designovators commenced.
The Designovators portal facilitates the connection of interested clients with fashion sector designers and ancillary stakeholders to provide total package solutions on a mutually beneficial basis. These package solutions not only include the product design component but also graphic art design, production specification, pattern- making, manufacturing and material supplies. The options will grow as the portal evolves.
Designovators is particularly focused on building a network of talent that has a strong association with New World Fashion and the designers who have registered at the time of writing come predominantly from the Caribbean, New Zealand and Africa. The pool will expand to include other countries with emerging centers of innovative fashion and design.
In simple terms Designovators acts as a facilitator to connect clients with designers (and vice versa) and support the growth of business for both groups. It is a quite exclusive site aiming at the upper end of the market and is not intended to be an open access website. This is to protect both the designers from plagiarism, as far as is practically possible, and also to ensure that there is verification of the authenticity of both clients and designers to ensure all are bona fide.
The Board of Directors is as follows:
Selwyn Medina - Board Chairman
Selwyn is from Trinidad & Tobago and has tertiary qualifications in management and business administration. He is also internationally certified in a number Quality Management Systems and Continuous Improvement Intervention fields. He is the Managing Director of the training, auditing and consultancy firm, QUAL-ECO Ltd.
Ian Ivey
Ian is originally from New Zealand and has lived and worked in more than 30 countries internationally. He has a M Sc Hons and has had many years of practical commercial experience as a senior executive in a range of international business sectors and is also a strategic foresight specialist. He has been involved with fashion sector foresight projects in the Caribbean since 2006 and was the primary driver for setting up and commercializing Designovators Ltd.
Jason De Freitas
Jason is from Trinidad and Tobago but has also lived and worked in the USA for a number of years. He has an MBA from the University of Memphis and a B Sc Hons. He has worked in marketing and market research for a number of large companies in both the USA and Trinidad and Tobago.
Nick Marsh
Nick is based in New Zealand and works with numerous international clients in the field of strategic foresight. He has a PhD from Bath University in the UK and has been involved in developing several MBA programmes in the South Pacific. He has written three books about business excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship within longer term foresight frameworks.
In addition to the Directors, Designovators has several special advisers with international experience who are a vital part of the business development team.
Claudia Pegus A Trinidad and Tobago based fashion designer with extensive international experience and success achievement. Claudia is a leading light in many regional fashion sector initiatives that focus on developing excellence and greater international participation for 'new world' fashion designers. Claudia's role is to help build the networks of designers and client connections.
