Rawle Permanand is beyond himself with excitement. As one of the new designers for the band YUMA, he considers himself blessed to be given the opportunity to design a section for the popular band. Permanand has been playing with YUMA since it first took to the streets in 2010 as a section leader having switched from Tribe. He always harboured a desire to design costumes. The chance came this year, when after losing some of its popular designers, the band’s management held a casting for replacements. “I believe quite a few people participated and four of us were chosen. We had to present our costumes, they critiqued it and eliminated you if it wasn’t what they wanted,” he said. As a YUMA masquerader, Permanand had an edge because he knew the YUMA brand and what the band’s masqueraders would look for.

 

The result was Purple Haze, one of the stand out costumes at YUMA’s band launch last weekend. The fuschia pink and purple costume with grey accents was beautiful, particularly the front line costume with its feathered wings and intricate details on the two –piece.  Permanand tried to add some difference to the two-piece concept for the back line, creating a strapless effect with added swag to act as a necklace. “It was challenging going into it for the first time. The most challenging part is when you put forth a design you have to ensure it is practical for the average masquerader. I had to make adjustments to the front line by changing the shape of the bra,” he said. Permanand, who does events and interior decorating as a hobby, sees himself designing for a long time especially for Carnivals outside of Trinidad and Tobago. “I just want to stretch the possibilities,” he said.