By S.Browne. Updated 5:10 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Vincentian fashion designer Karen De Freitas-Fraser has been nominated for the Fashion Designer Icon of the Year Award at the 2026 Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Awards.
According to a press release issued on June 17, De Freitas-Fraser is among the nominees for the regional award, which recognises Caribbean women for their contributions to business, leadership, culture and community development.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in the British Virgin Islands on June 26 as part of Caribbean POSH Weekend 2026.
De Freitas-Fraser, founder and creative director of the fashion brand Soka, has represented St Vincent and the Grenadines at international fashion events, including Paris Fashion Week and Brooklyn Fashion Week. The release stated that her work has also been featured by Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.com, and that Soka was previously recognised among the top 10 Caribbean designers to know.
In a statement, De Freitas-Fraser said she was honoured by the nomination.
“I am truly honoured and grateful to have been nominated alongside such visionary women who are shaping the future of Caribbean creativity,” she said.
“This nomination is a celebration not just of my work, but of the vibrant culture and artistry of St Vincent and the Grenadines and those who I collaborate with and learned from.”
The release highlighted several community-focused initiatives undertaken through the Soka brand, including Project Pink and Project Blue, which were launched between 2016 and 2017 to raise awareness and funds for breast and testicular cancer programmes in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.
It also noted that the Soka Gyal initiative provides educational, mentorship and networking opportunities for women pursuing careers in the creative and entrepreneurial sectors.
According to the release, De Freitas-Fraser established The Tallawah Collective following the 2021 La Soufrière volcanic eruptions and, later, Hurricane Beryl in 2024 to support disaster relief efforts in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Caribbean POSH ICON Woman Awards are organised by Caribbean POSH and recognise women across a range of sectors, including government, tourism, sustainability, entrepreneurship, media and community development.
Voting for the Fashion Designer Icon of the Year category is currently open, with winners to be announced during the awards weekend.
Members of the public can cast their votes through the Caribbean POSH ICON Awards voting page at https://tinyurl.com/3yfxhcd3.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean POSH, Janette Brin, said this year’s honourees represent women whose leadership and innovation are helping to shape the future of the Caribbean.
Caribbean POSH Weekend 2026 is scheduled to run from June 25 to June 30 in the British Virgin Islands.
END
One News SVG 