Local designer Amethyst Richardson has just come off a successful show in the US Virgin Islands and has sewn up a schedule of upcoming Caribbean shows which should better expose his designs to the region.

Mr. Richardson took part in the first annual Caribbean Bride Magazine Fashion Expo last month.

He was actually shocked to get the invitation ? but proud.

"I was chosen simply by what they had heard about the line," he said. "After they made contact with me, I sent them some of my designs and after that I was asked to be the main feature in the show. So I was most grateful just to be a part of this event."

Aside from Mr. Richardson there were four other designers, from around the region, in the show ? Sonya Noel of Guyana, Kingsley Thorn and Pat Blackman, both of Barbados, and Henry Marsham of St. Kitts.

"It was quite overwhelming due to the fact that I showed with two top designers ? Sonya Noel, of Mariska's Designs, and Pat Blackman of Perlixin'."

The designers were very encouraging of Mr. Richardson's line, Spirit Wear.

"They were most impressed that I was just being recognised in the Caribbean and thought that I could very much blow the roof off any of the shows around the region," he said. "They were two designers that only wore their own designs and are now proudly wearing (my collection) Spirit Wear."

The event took place at the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel, which is located on St. Thomas' waterfront in downtown Charlotte Amalie.

Mr. Richardson was invited to take part in the event by Caribbean Brides Magazine as a way of promoting the fashion industry in the Caribbean.

He was scheduled to do another show in Guyana next weekend, but the show was postponed and set for a later date.

"That show was to raise money for an orphanage to help with expenses of food, schooling and clothing," he said.

His next show will take place in St. Thomas again, during the US Virgin Islands Fashion Week in January.

"I will unveil a collection called 'Purple Nights 2007', which is a collection for the summer evening," he said.

"The rest of the 2007 schedule is in March. I go to Anguilla, in April, I will be in Barbados, for the Caribbean Fashion Week and, following that, in June I will be in Jamaica, which will leave May open for my Bermuda show."

He said he found St. Thomas to be not only beautiful but also most welcoming, especially being greeted at the airport by the country's Miss Universe contestant Je Taime Cerge.

"She also did the makeup for my collection," Mr. Richardson said.

"That was followed by a cocktail reception at a private resort. So, by the time I left the beautiful yet small island, I knew many people as well as some of the senators who invited me for a casual luncheon followed by a dinner to meet the models and other designers."

To see the Spirit Wear collection visit www.digibug.com/dalemorton. For more info on the collection ring 504-1400.