Excitement! Excitement! Excitement! So Trinidad and Tobago's Band Launch Season is here. Which means that carnival bands are releasing and showcasing their costume options (sections) for Carnival 2018. What am I even speaking about? Well for those of you who don't know; Trinidad and Tobago has one of the best Carnivals around the world. It is very spectacular yet a special gem of the Caribbean, because when people talk about carnivals, they usually associate it with Brazil Carnival. However, Brazil carnival and Trinidad and Tobago's carnival are two completely different types, from the music, to the dances, to the costumes, to the size of the bands. Our carnival is know as the biggest street party on Earth. It takes up the whole city.
Because carnival is such a big event, carnival bands start planning a year in advance. When we are not "playing" mas, we are preparing for it. As such, leading up to the big event, which is carnival Monday and Tuesday, carnival bands launch their theme and costumes a few months prior, between July-August (which is known as the Band Launch season), and carnival usually falls in February or March. The purpose of a "Band Launch" is basically to market the costumes and the band to entice potential masqueraders to pick a costume within the band.
Carnival Bands usually go about having a launch in the form of a "fete" or a grand celebration/party. on Saturday, the band launch that I went to was for TRIBE Carnival, which is the biggest band in T&T's carnival, and also, the most anticipated band launch every year. Not only because their costumes are beautiful, but because the celebrations are so epic. And they usually put out a lot to give party goers an amazing experience. They even got the name, the Victoria Secret of the Caribbean, because they put a lot of effort and flare into their presentation. Unmatched.
TRIBE however, is the "big sister" of two other family bands, Bliss and The Lost Tribe. So yesterday, was the launch of all three bands, on one stage.
This is one of my favorites, the name of this costume or section is called She Wolf, designed by Shawn Dhanraj. Honestly, this picture does not do that costume justice, the details on the body wear and the headpiece. And the big, plush wings, was just amazing.
Another one of my favorites is this section called Sambala, which is designed by Solange Govia. I can guarantee you that this section will definitely be hard to get in.
My absolute favorites costume is featured in Bliss the band, the section name is Dolce Vita, and is also designed by Shawn Dhanraj.
Another one of my favorites costume is also from Bliss, named Alta Moda, designed by Tobye and Shoma.