P O Box 3107, Tragrete Road, Port of Spain, Trinidad

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Tel: +1 868 384 7291 Web: www.designovators.net ( ) E-mail: info@designovators.net

‘NEW WORLD FASHION’ - T&T LEADS THE WAY!

The Background

Since 2006 a number of fashion and creative sector stakeholders have been involved in
a series of projects run by Ian Ivey of NEXT in association with NIHERST, the OAS and
the Caribbean Council for Science and Technology (CCST). The aim has been to
explore ways in which such stakeholders can become more globally connected and, by
doing so, expand their businesses. These projects were highly participatory and involved
a great deal of consensus-building. A number of propositions were developed and there
was a strong feeling that there was a real need to move forward from talking and
concept development towards commercialisation of at least one proposition.

In early 2009 a group of fashion sector stakeholders and interested persons met in Port
of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago and a number of those present committed to setting up a
new business that would focus on building a portal that would assist the region’s fashion
and creative designers expand their businesses into global markets.

A professional business plan was developed which included a five year financial
statement and a model for financial involvement through purchasing shares in the
company. Within 24 hours of circulating the business plan, interest in purchasing all 20
shares had been expressed. In fact there was more interest than shares available. The
shares were subsequently allocated to those who had applied for them. This is the first
ever ‘Angel Investor Network’ funded business launched in this part of the world.

The shares were allocated to 12 shareholders, 11 of whom are based in the Caribbean,
and paid up.

The shareholders elected a Board of five persons, namely:

 Mr Selwyn Medina – Chairman of the Board
 Mr Ryan John – Director and Business Developer
 Mr Ian Ivey – Director and Network Developer
 Mr Jason De Freitas – Director and Marketing Specialist
 Dr Nick Marsh – Director and New Zealand link

In addition to the Board provision was made for at least two high profile fashion sector
stakeholders to advise and support the development of the business and one such
person is now officially involved in such a capacity.

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As from May 29, 2010. In the interim the beta site is at www.designovators.net/index.cfm

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The name chosen for the company was Designovators Limited, a contraction of the
words ‘Designer’ and ‘Innovators’ and the relevant domain names registered and
secured.

The Designovators portal facilitates the connection of fashion clients with fashion sector
designers and ancillary stakeholders to provide total package solutions on a mutually
beneficial basis. Those package solutions would not only include the design component
of apparel items and accessories but also graphic design, production specification,
pattern making, manufacturing and material supplies to clients. In fact the options are
broad and creative design solutions for any application will be part of the evolving offer
to clients.

Designovators is particularly focused on building a network of talent in the areas

mentioned that has a strong association with ‘New World Fashion’ and comes
predominantly from the Caribbean and New Zealand and Africa initially but could over
time expand into parts of Asia, the South Pacific, Latin America and other emerging
centres of innovative fashion and design in a progressive way. At the time of writing,
Designovators has a pool of designers and associated stakeholders on the site from
Africa, New Zealand, various Caribbean countries plus some ethnic designers with a
strong African theme based in the USA.

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 ensure that there is verification of the authenticity of both clients and
designers to ensure all are bona fide.

What’s unique about Designovators?

 This is an idea that was initiated and evolved here in the region because local
fashion sector stakeholders expressed a strong interest in expanding their
businesses.
 Designovators Ltd is a 95% Caribbean-owned and funded business.
 It has been built in response to the needs expressed by fashion and creative
design sector players who participated in a number of ‘Sector Best Bets’ projects
and entrepreneurship workshops run by NEXT throughout the region.
 It offers fashion and creative design sector stakeholders an opportunity to
become part of an exciting new innovative international business that is based
here in the Caribbean.
 Caribbean Designers and sector stakeholders will become part of a global
network of ‘New World Fashion’ stakeholders who will be exposed to a range of
international clients – both commercial and private – from many parts of the
world.
 They have a real opportunity now to get in at the ‘ground floor’ and become the
core part of this exciting new business initiative.
 They can choose to be part of an ‘Experienced’ or ‘Up and Coming’ Designer
Pool. Clients can choose to access either or both pools of designers depending
upon the level of innovation they require and how adventurous they wish to be.

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 The Intellectual Property and Copyright belonging to individual designers remains
in their ownership at all times, unless transferred to a registered client by mutual
agreement.
 Registration for Designers and other sector stakeholders, as well as clients, is
free for the first year and it is intended that no registration fee for Designers will
be charged in the foreseeable future.
 When Designers and Clients register Designovators receive an electronic alert
that the registration has been submitted and, providing the registrant is bona fide,
will activate the registration so that both have access to all the site’s features.
 Once registered Designers and other sector stakeholders receive the following:
o Their own log-in space on the website where they can put up their profile and
load up photos of their designs and products at no cost – an online area
which they alone can access and where they control all the content. Other
designers cannot see any other designer’s space on the portal. Only clients
have access to the designers. The staff at Designovators also cannot access
the space of individual designers. All they can do is terminate the registration
of any designer (or client) who fails to adhere to the Terms and Conditions for
registering and becoming part of the site and delete their online space. This
offers a real opportunity for local and regional designers who don’t have an
Internet presence.
o Access to an online shop to sell their designs and products to interested
clients at no cost. This can be used to stimulate sales of new fashion items
and lines or to sell old stock at discounts to clients who are registered on the
site. The prices received and margins are likely to be much higher than those
received through traditional ‘dump shops’ and factory warehouse retail
outlets.
o Access to requests for special one off designs (both commercial and private)
and line manufacturing through a confidential ‘deal zone’ and the opportunity
to submit a proposal and complete a commercial contract. This access is also
free.
o Access to other stakeholders who can help a Designer deliver a package
deal to a client (e.g. design, specify, material sourcing and manufacturing) at
no cost.
 They may also choose to be a featured designer or stakeholder on the home
page of the site for a small fee.
 It is only when a contract with a client or an online sale is completed that
Designovators Ltd. receives any payments.
 For clients the offer is also unique and includes:
o Confidential access to a specific designer, a range of designers, and other
sector relevant stakeholders who can offer them customised solutions that
embrace a range of options.
o An opportunity to negotiate a special deal in a closed access deal zone
where the parties negotiating have complete confidentiality.
o Access to design specials in each designer’s web zone.
o Access to bargains such as last year’s fashion lines at a discount.
o An ability to mix and match the package of solution suppliers to suit their
particular needs.

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Where to next?

Ryan John is leading the commercialisation process assisted by his three fellow
Caribbean-based Directors. A worldwide network-based market development plan is
being implemented to build up both the designer and client pools. Associations with key
events are being developed. Success doesn’t happen overnight but the Directors are
confident that this business will be a real success because of the strong interest and
support that is being demonstrated regionally and internationally.

This is an example of the type of new innovative and entrepreneurial businesses that are
needed in the region. It will demonstrate that ‘we can do it’ too, if we are prepared to join
forces and think outside the box.

Ryan John

Director