The Bermuda Fashion Festival has come a long way since it began as a single runway show on Court Street seven years ago.

Festival producer Danilee Trott shared that sentiment with guests at the culminating black-tie gala on Saturday night.

Thanking the international models, designers and mentors that have raised the event from its more humble beginnings, Ms Trott said: “We have seven international fashion experts that have all worked tirelessly.

“They have graciously volunteered their time in order to teach, nurture, support and guide Bermuda’s own designers all under the direction of Shiona Turini.”

The gala, which honoured Ms Turini and fellow Bermudian Ian Bickley, drew a mixed crowd of organisers, sponsors, mentors, volunteers and dedicated followers of fashion. “Consistent and proud supporter of Bermuda Fashion Festival” Paula Cox took to the podium.

Ms Cox described the week’s events as “incomparable”.

“It is incredible that just 21 square miles were able to play in the big leagues,” she said of the local designers that made large impressions on the crowds.

Jakai Franks was invited to show his JRU collection at New York fashion week in September; Brittany Wolffe, designer of LoveBomb, received the Coach scholarship and Juliana Gibbons was awarded an internship at Interview Magazine.

All three collections, as well as that of Coral Coast Clothing, will retail at Hamilton stores Urban Cottage and Gibbon’s Company.

Speaking of an unexpected bonding moment with another fashion follower, Ms Cox said: “That is the beauty of this fashion festival. It pulls together people of disparate backgrounds. Perhaps some of us will step out of our comfort zone. Perhaps some of us will even change our fashion style and do some things or wear some things that we haven’t thought to before. But what is even more important that I would urge you to do, is to support our local designers.

“Creativity it important, but what is even more important is commerce and helping them to be able to be successful.”

“It’s about making sure that we celebrate ourselves and our local talent.

Both Ms Turini and Mr Bickley affirmed the importance of Bermudians supporting one another.

“I now understand my role,” Mr Bickley, president of Coach, said. “One is being a mentor to young Bermudians. Helping them to realise what is possible and what can be achieved with hard work, with belief, with determination and also dreaming big.”

He was joined at the Coach-sponsored event by the company’s entire executive team.

“We have so many talented people on this island,” he added.

Robed in a golden gown by international designer Stello, the Corporation of Hamilton’s Tamara Bradshaw said: “I think this has been the biggest, most stressful, most successful and most rewarding fashion festival we’ve ever done”.

Dominique Dior, production manager at Stello, said: “This is my first time in Bermuda. It’s one of the friendliest places I’ve ever been. The shows were great — especially the local designers.

“I was really impressed with their creativity and their inventiveness.

“In the same way that kids have such imagination because they haven’t been clouded by outside sources, it was pure creativity, not tainted by anything else. It was their true vision.”

Bermudian model Khadijah Shakir was wearing a piece from California designer Adolfo Sanchez, who showed on Tuesday. The two had become friendly after meeting at last year’s show.

“We’ve kind of built this little friendliness and he said that I could pick any one of his pieces to wear,” she said.

“I picked this one because it’s sexy but it’s edgy at the same time. It’s not your traditional ball gown.”

Of Bermuda’s growing fashion week, she said: “It keeps getting bigger and better every year. From the opportunities for the local designers and then the opportunities for the models — I think we can all agree that every year the experience gets better.

“If you’ve been following along since 2011, you’ve seen it evolve. It’s amazing to see everybody’s hard work pay off.”

SJ Romeo has been involved in the past four years, but this year for her was “huge”.

“It’s just huge,” she told Lifestyle. “They’re always good, but [this year] really opened my eyes. The young women that came through auditions — 12 to 13-year-olds that look like they’re 17-18, but they have the talent to back it up. They have the look. They have the legs. There’s so much talent and beauty.”