Fashion Impact Fund Grant Recipient:
Council of Sustainable Fashion Designers of Grenada
St. George’s, Grenada
Organization: Council of Sustainable Fashion Designers of Grenada
Website: csfdg.com
Location: St. George’s, Grenada
Program Focus: Sustainable fashion design, pattern making, and circular product development training
Participants Trained: 5
Program Duration: 7 months | February 2025 – August 2025
The Fashion Impact Fund provided a grant to support a workforce education program delivered by the Council of Sustainable Fashion Designers of Grenada, an organization working to strengthen the creative economy in Caribbean Small Island Developing States. The grant supported the Kaylia Couturier Program, Council of Sustainable Fashion Designers of Grenada’s flagship training initiative, designed to provide participants with technical skills in fashion design, pattern making, and sustainable material sourcing, equipping them to develop production-ready fashion products and pursue professional opportunities within the sector.
“The Council of Sustainable Fashion Designers of Grenada demonstrates how fashion education can support workforce development while advancing sustainable production practices. Through the support of the Fashion Impact Fund, initiatives like the Kaylia Couturier Program help strengthen creative industries in Small Island Developing States.”
— Kerry Bannigan, Founder, Fashion Impact Fund
Education
The Kaylia Couturier Program provides hands-on training in fashion design, technical development, and sustainable material sourcing. Participants begin by developing brand concepts rooted in environmental, social, economic, and cultural sustainability, while learning to define their creative identity through mood boards, customer personas, and value propositions.
As the program progresses, students learn digital illustration using tools such as Procreate and develop capsule collections through croquis and garment sketches. They then translate their creative concepts into production-ready technical packages, including flat sketches, specification sheets, and costing sheets.
Participants also explore sustainable textile sourcing and regenerative materials, evaluating natural and next-generation fabrics while considering environmental, social, and financial impacts through a True Cost Calculator.
Workforce
The program prepares participants with the technical and creative capabilities needed to pursue professional opportunities within the fashion sector. By combining design education with technical production training and exposure to industry professionals, the program helps participants develop the skills required to build independent brands, pursue creative careers, or contribute to regional fashion enterprises.
Manufacturing
By strengthening skills in pattern making, garment development, and sustainable material sourcing, the program contributes to expanding the technical capabilities required to support local fashion production. Training initiatives such as this help build talent pipelines that can support emerging production ecosystems within Caribbean Small Island Developing States.
Impact
The program ran for seven months and supported 5 participants in developing technical skills in fashion design, garment development, and sustainable material sourcing. Through hands-on instruction and mentorship, participants strengthened their ability to translate creative concepts into production-ready fashion products while developing skills that support future professional opportunities within the creative economy.
GRANT RECIPIENT
Shannen Henry
Shannen Henry founded the Council of Sustainable Fashion Designers of Grenada in 2023 with a vision to strengthen local creative industries through sustainable fashion production. As a biologist and sustainability specialist with experience in luxury fashion and lifestyle products, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the intersection of fashion, sustainability, and economic development.
Through the Council, she develops programs that support local craftsmanship, promote circular design practices, and build networks that advance sustainable production within Grenada and other Caribbean Small Island Developing States.
“The Fashion Impact Fund’s support of the Kaylia Couturier Program in Grenada creates an important opportunity to strengthen technical training within the region’s creative industries. By expanding access to education and resources, this collaboration helps build the skills and networks needed to support sustainable fashion development in Small Island Developing States.”
