The Caribean Fashion Week Dominican Republic 2012 kick-started on 19 July at the Bellas Artes Art Gallery in Palacio de Bellas Artes, Santo Domingo.

Melina Almonte and Marvin Garcia opened the show with their variety designs, followed by Dianny Mota and Ariel Cedeno. Others, who took away the ramp by storm, are Robert Flores and Ana Francesca.

The importance of the Caribbean Fashion Week lies in the fact that it is attended by international designers. Special guests are also invited for their variety of events. Past invited guests include Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera and Marchesa.

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The second day of CFW was taken over by designer Nicolas Felizola, a Venezuelan-born Miami-based Haute Couture designer. The designer's official website states that understated elegance and glamour are the hallmarks of Nicolas Felizola's design. His style is unique with a signature image always bearing his personal touch. He displayed his landmark bridal designs in the CFW RD 2012. Along with the bridals, a stunning yellowish-orange gown was the main attraction of the event. There were also a few black designs with plugning necklines and knee-high thigh splits.

Hector Omar, Fernando Gantier and Eddie Guerrero (Puerto Rico), Venezuelan Nidal Nouahaied, and Devota & Lomba (Spain), as well as Marisol Henriquez, Maurizio Alberino, Marethe, and Miguel Genao from the Dominican Republic will showcase their designs on the following days.

The Caribbean Fashion Week is followed by other fashion festivals in the country. Another festival conducted on the same lines is the Caribbean International Fashion Week.It is a joint venture of Caribbean stakeholders, including the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the Caribbean Fashion Industry Association, Jampro, the Jamaica Tourist Board, various related government and non-governmental agencies, as well as other regional stakeholders and industry professionals, Vibez Entertainment reported. The main idea is to help Caribbean fashion designers take full advantage of the marketing that the event creates, utilise the experience gained, the international press generated, the buyers' marketplace provided, and the business forums presented.

Take a look at the brilliant designs of Nicolas Felizola that was showcased at the Caribbean Fashion Week RD 2012:

(Source: IBTimes.com)