HCIT students bring training to life through Canvas & Couture

ST ANN, Jamaica— Students of the HEART College of Innovation and Technology (HCIT) pursuing event coordinator level four certification successfully brought their training to life through Canvas & Couture — an evening where art meets fashion. Held on Saturday, September 19, at the Cardiff Hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann, the student production team curated an elevated evening for approximately 25 guests, guiding patrons through an immersive fusion of art and fashion. The experience started with an intimate sip-and-paint session led by Student Instructor Nickoy Binnie.

This was followed by an intriguing fashion show featuring stunning collections across resort wear, swimwear, formal wear, and avant-garde categories. Model Georgia Brown showcases a stunning design in red created by Oshin Haye escorted by Nickoy Binnie. The runway highlighted exceptional designs from Garmex Academy alumni and renowned local talent, including designer Romario Cornwall (The Clothing Manipulator), Monique Morgan Allen (Simply Majestic), Oshin Haye (Bellami) and Fashion Entrepreneur Stascha Smith (Stascha’s Closet).

The diverse line-up of models featured international model Rich-Ann Vernon. Together, the showcase created a powerful platform for Jamaican fashion while allowing students to demonstrate flawless event coordination and guest management. More than an academic assignment, Canvas & Couture proved the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Under the guidance of course instructor Patrice Nephew, owner of EventsDownPat, the class leveraged their diverse professional backgrounds—spanning marketing, hospitality, hotel operations, and wedding planning. Student Instructor Nickoy Binnie guides patrons through an immersive sip-and-paint session at Canvas & Couture. This varied expertise allowed the team to sharpen existing skills, build new competencies, and navigate the demands of live execution, gaining vital experience tailored for Jamaica’s rapidly growing creative, hospitality, and events industries.

“I am particularly proud of this cohort. They entered this course with different capabilities and perspectives, stuck through the program, and planned this entire event virtually without ever meeting physically,” noted Patrice Nephew, course instructor, HCIT, who oversaw student execution across marketing, décor, logistics, and technical production.