Guyanese fashion was the focus at Some ’Ting Nice in Somerville.

By Nidhi Mathson

Colorful, breezy and flowing dresses, skirts and swimwear adorned models as they sashayed down the aisle to rhythmic Caribbean music. It was the scene inside the Caribbean restaurant Some ’Ting Nice in Somerville on Memorial Day weekend.

Outside, the traffic whizzed by on McGrath Highway. The restaurant had been transformed into a runway for models who walked by guests enjoying various selections from the menu. The mix of Caribbean food, fashion and music created a light and carefree mood among the viewers, who applauded and cheered for the models as they came by their tables in various outfits.

Guyanese fashion designer Sonia Noel was in town from the Caribbean exhibiting her new line of beach and resort wear titled “First Resort.” The founder and CEO of Guyana Fashion Week said she has been designing for 16 years and is always inspired by her environment. Her designs were bright and airy, appropriate for all shapes and sizes, and included men’s wear.

“Today [I’m displaying] my new line called ‘First Resort.’ When you think about the Caribbean you think of flow and color. It’s much simpler, more relaxed and easy,” said Noel as she described the fashion line that was on display at the restaurant. “I also have another line called Mariska, which is much more structured and high-end.”

Although it was her first time in Massachusetts, the designer has attended fashion shows in New York and other parts of the world. Her schedule ahead was already full, with shows to attend in New York, Guyana, Jamaica and the Caribbean.

“I try to use the platform of fashion, because it has such a ready audience, to subtly send messages of social ills of our society, so over the years we’ve done (awareness-raising themes of) domestic violence, HIV, breast cancer, and even the environment, which should be taken more seriously than people do. We all have to live in it, and we want it to be a better place.”

Noel owns a boutique in Guyana and is looking to expand outside the Caribbean. Among the many hats she wears, she also recently launched her own magazine called Makin’ Style, which hit New York newsstands last year. In September, Noel will have 15 of her designs featured at the Brooklyn Wine and Food festival in New York.