Shamari Haynes Gets St. Croix In Mood Of Carnival With Costumes Debut Showcase

ST. CROIX — A mood of anticipation engulfed Fort Frederik during the late hours of Saturday night and the wee hours of Sunday morning. There, beautiful women, many attired in white outfits huddled themselves in small groups having conversations, waiting for the action to begin: Shamari Haynes and Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe’s costumes design showcasing affair. There were men as well, though in smaller quantity than the women.

A deejay kept the vibe lively as the anticipation grew. The mix did not disappoint either, with music selected from a variety of genres spanning at least two generations.

As the hosts eventually made their way to a stage that had been erected, the crowd thrust forward eager to see the designs — eight in total — and the male and female models who were tasked to exhibit the costumes. After a brief appearance by Mr. Haynes welcoming attendees to the fourth annual event, and a short performance later on, the models positioned themselves, the deejay cued the music, and the glorious demonstration of what Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe — the largest carnival troupe in the U.S. Virgin Islands — had worked for months on, began in earnest.

Up the steps they came and onto the stage that faced south, with design after design wowing onlookers, many who chose to become members of the troupe by signing up that very night.

Truth be told, “wow” does not adequately describe the work that Mr. Haynes — whose costumes rival some of the best in the business of carnival — has poured into the ensembles. The eight entrees included The Sophisticates, designed in honor of the territory’s Centennial celebration; Invictus Reign, VI Meets Vegas, A Kaleidoscopic Crucian Fusion, D’Garden Ah Eden, Island Tribe: The Reigning Dynasty, Exotica: Journey to India and I AM.

All the outfits came with personality and all were striking in design, even though some made bolder statements than others. The Sophisticates, worn by local model Diamond Ritter, and Invictus Reign, a madras ensemble which represents the first three years of the troupe — captured the gaze of the audience with their unique scheme.

Following the showcase and a last group walk by models, the hosts welcomed Mr. Haynes to the stage, setting the atmosphere of his appearance by referring to him as a creative genius, whose knack for inventiveness dates back to his childhood. The crowd concurred with cheers.

Once handed the mic, Mr. Haynes made it a point to recognize his team, without whom he said the event would not be possible. The designer’s confidence in his team’s ability was so strong that he said if, God forbid, he were to die before this year’s festival season on St. Croix, the Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe would still be on the road in January, 2018. Mr. Haynes also thanked the community for supporting his endeavors over the years.

The event achieved its goal of garnering signups to Mr. Haynes’s troupe as well as setting the mood for carnival, and also putting pressure on other groupes ostensibly planning troupe launch events.

If you’re interested in being part of Simply Sophisticated Fun Troupe, send a message to the group’s Facebook page, or call (340) 626-6200. Coming soon, participants will be able to register through an app on the App Store for iOS devices, and the Play Store for Android devices. Mr. Haynes also designs costumes for pageants and outside carnival events upon availability.