:: Diamond Noir Collective ::

Glenda Lugay's ascent to fashion icon began at the tender age of 12, when she began an after school job at a prestigious retail store.  She traveled around Europe for four years before starting a career with high-end boutiques in New York in the early nineties.

Ever ambitious, she subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where the enterprising young Lugay became the first black woman to open two jewelry and accessory stores in Beverly Hills.  With experience ranging from jewelry, handbags, and footwear, to clothing for men, women and children, she has been fortunate to work with some of the world's most renowned designers, allowing her access to numerous A-list celebrities and royalty clientele.

She has been widely published in trade journals, newspapers, and popular women's magazines. In 2002, she caught the eyes of Oprah Winfrey’s team and was interviewed twice by them as a candidate for the segment “Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things” – a testimony to her dedication to her career in fashion.

In high demand, Lugay has held various positions in the fashion industry including editorial director and accessory editor for Amour Creole magazine; accessory director for Allezom, the Accessory board, for four years in New York City; proprietress of Tres Jolie Jewelry and Accessories boutique in Beverly Hills; she was the brain behind and creator of Tres Jolie Caribb magazine, which is the first International Caribbean Fashion magazine; and she is chief executive of Top Job PR Inc., a public relations firm in Los Angeles.

Her experience in Public Relations, sales and marketing over several years has given her the skills to qualify her to serve as a goodwill ambassador for the Region and help to promote Caribbean countries and their interests with dignity.

Her objectives are:

1. To promote the fashion industry of the Caribbean    To empower Caribbean designers, elevate their image and highlight their contributions to the international fashion industry.
2. To support and raise funds the CTO Foundation, which provides education for deserving Caribbean nationals
3. To brand the Caribbean as a global player in cultural tourism and Fashion.
4. To utilize Tres Jolie Caribb magazine and events as a platform to expose Tourism, couture fashion and other interests of the Caribbean to an unprecedented international audience of buyers and media.
5. To liaise with various Caribbean entities about fashion and tourism, to promote increased regional pride.
6. Establish the Caribbean as a leading fashion destination, in order to generate increased tourism revenues in the destinations.

Short and long-term goals are as follows:

1. To produce the 1^st Annual Caribbean International Fashion Week (CIFW) in New York City leading up to a subsequent edition hosted in the Caribbean.
2. To establish and grow CIFW as an annual event, in partnership with the CTO Foundation, to promote local and international Caribbean designers.
3. To explore, seek, and pursue additional opportunities, venues, and avenues to promote and gain exposure for Caribbean designers.
4. To seek financial backing and support to open the first Caribbean Couture boutique exclusively showcasing Caribbean designers in LA and NY.
5. To provide Caribbean designers with industry support and the necessary expertise to gain visibility and placement with buyers in international markets.
6. Partner with Tres Jolie Caribb Magazine (a new publication designed to positively promote and provide exposure for Caribbean designers and fashion on an international level).
7. Secure the services of Top Job PR, a Beverly Hills based public relations firm, to promote Caribbean fashion and tourism

Lugay has set many objectives and accomplished so much, but it would be the realization of her dream to accomplish this goal, with the help and support of the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Lugay is beginning a new chapter in her life and undertaking some of her biggest projects yet. As the newly named Goodwill Ambassador of Fashion for the Caribbean Islands, gifted daughter of the Caribbean and loving mother, Ms. Lugay plans to execute major projects for 2011. The new Year will include organizing Caribbean International Fashion Week, the Caribbean Music Awards and continuing her work with Tres Jolie Caribb, her Caribbean Fashion Magazine.   Also in her plans, Ms. Lugay is launching the Miss Caribbean International Pageant as well as creating a Fashion Institute for the Caribbean.

With over 20 years of experience, one can never tell where this next phase of Lugay's life will take her.