Caption: Canadian designer and entrepreneur George Sully (third left) with local designers Althea Teague (second left), Shem Henry (third right) and Miranda Askie (second right) pose for a photo at Villa Coby.
June 18, 2025 (St John’s, Antigua) – Toronto-based Fashion designer and entrepreneur George Sully, while vacationing in Antigua last week, met with three local designers to explore creativity and cross-border collaboration.
Sully met with Miranda Askie of Miranda Askie Designs, Shem Henry of Henrè Designs and Althea Teague of Althea’s Wonderfully Made Productions at Villa Coby, a luxury villa in the Jolly Harbour area. In the intimate poolside setting, the designers showcased their couture pieces, fabric samples and accessories with live models.
Sully described the Antigua and Barbuda fashion scene as a vivid tapestry of creativity, culture, and expression.
“The islands’ designers that I have had the pleasure to meet, effortlessly blend contemporary style with traditional influences, creating a unique narrative where every piece tells a story,” Sully said.
“From bold colours to intricate patterns, the designs reflect not just the beauty of the landscape but the heart and soul of the people. Antigua and Barbuda is a place where fashion is more than a trend, it is a celebration of identity and heritage that truly comes alive in every stitch.”
The activity was organized by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s (ABTA) Canada Office, as part of ongoing efforts to expose Antiguan and Barbudan talent internationally.
ABTA Director of Tourism in Canada Tameka Wharton, said the collaboration between George Sully and the talented local designers serves to highlight Antigua and Barbuda’s vibrant creative scene.
“By fostering these connections, we’re not only showcasing our homegrown talent but also opening doors for international partnerships that elevate our fashion industry on a global stage. These exchanges will continue within other prominent industries and sectors as a unique opportunity to promote our destination to experiential travellers,” Wharton said.
While visiting Antigua and Barbuda with his wife and two sons, Sully ventured to Stingray City and Laviscount Island, a sanctuary for the protected Aldabra tortoises and other wildlife. Sully described the trip as “epic.”
“Antigua welcomed me with open arms. It wasn’t just the breathtaking landscapes that left an impression, but the genuine warmth of the people and their stories, reminding me that travel is more than just a destination,” Sully noted.
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority is looking forward to future collaborations with Sully and the unique contributions and value he brings through his existing relationships and professional network.
ABOUT GEORGE SULLY
George Sully is a multidisciplinary designer, entrepreneur and as of late, known as the architect of Black Designers of Canada (BDC) — an endeavor to highlight, amplify and unite Black designers across the region to a more mainstream swath of eyes. But over a career that began with his first brand Limb Apparel in 2002, Sully has chipped away at the brick wall standing between the ill-judged stereotype of Black “urban” designers, and the rightful place he’s earned within the space of fashion. The multidisciplinary designer has accomplished far more career feats, from being signed by prolific luxury menswear brand Harry Rosen and Hudson’s Bay to earning a piece of pop culture cred as the original maker of the Star-Trek Discovery Starfleet boot. Having collaborated and designed for more than a dozen established brands, he’s a two-time Bata Shoe Museum Inductee with a body of work that spans more than two decades.
ABOUT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. The twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the Antigua and Barbuda Wellness Month, Run in Paradise, prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week, Antigua and Barbuda Art Week and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 11-mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.
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