BEHIND THE DESIGNS
The ela Design Company is a new fashion design and production company lead by a team of two experienced fashion industry professionals: Nina Alcantara, a reputable Trinidadian make-up artist and experienced Carnival costume designer; and Maria Elena Jute, a New York-based stylist and fashion consultant with experience working in New York City fashion showrooms and assisting in styling sessions for a number of celebrity and media clients.
The combination of skills and experience of these two individuals underscores the fabric of ela... the vibrant, colorful nature of Trinidad and Tobago meets the relentlessly daring, creative spirit of New York City. Launching this year in Trinidad & Tobago, the company aims to bring a fresh, creative and edgy new look to the Trinidad Carnival fashion landscape through the integration of international fashion trends, high-quality materials and strong attention to detail.
For Carnival 2013, ela debuted it's first ever Trinidad Carnival costume design with the TRIBE Carnival band, and for the second consecutive year, continued efforts in creating exclusive bespoke Monday Wear collections for the inspired masquerader looking to broaden their Carnival experience through the separation of outfits for Carnival Monday and Tuesday.
DESIGN COMPANY