THE MONTHLY GLEANER | SEPTEMBER 8 - OCTOBER 8, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 8 By Aubrey Campbell NEW YORK, NY.: V ICTORIA BIRTHWRIGHT (VB) is not one to keep a secret! These days, she is living out her childhood dream of not only being a model but a top fashion designer as well. From the sunbathed landscape of Jamaica, to the wintry climes of the USA/Northeast, VB is giving ordinary folks another reason to believe that luxury can be affordable! The Jamaica-born CEO of LUXSWEAR discovered her passion for ‘style and fashion’ while making the rounds as a small-time model at a number of social events on the island, best known for its hospitality brands. She later migrated to the United States of America (USA), where she pursued her interest in fashion and sports, with an emphasis on women’s wear for sports and recreation. She created a high-end brand with broadbased appeal that she aptly named, LUXSWEAR. Influenced by memories of her childhood days dressed in her mom’s Sunday best, including high heels, and later by some of the top brands and personalities in the business, like Coco Chanel, Iman and Donna Karen – VB wasted no time in turning her passion for fashion and style into entrepreneurship! Already blessed with the creative flair for fashion, VB needed a ‘helper’ to bring the project to market. She found that ‘helper’ in yoga, an artform that provided the perfect fit for her LUXSWEAR designs. Being a fan of yoga, it was easy for her to create fine as well as comfortable sportswear, not just for some but for all sizes, with traces of her own fashion taste. “Yoga has been a part of my life for many years– there was a time when I could not start my day without my hot yoga. Yoga taught me patience and serenity. “Fashion has always been a part of my life, I used to remake my own clothes in the latest fashion trends.” As bare as you dare – well, not quite – or if you prefer to cover it all in one or two pieces, a browse of the online store luxswear.com will convince you that the designer thought about you, and very soon you will be going on your merry way in one of her activewear or shapewear pieces. If you are a stickler for ‘fit’, especially where you might need a ‘lift’, LUXSWEAR will have you covered, from the bottom up, literally! Give your body that ‘wow’ appeal with a body sculpting, outer wear makeover, or a waist-slimming ensemble from the online store at Luxswear.com. You can also browse the all-inclusive inventory on Instagram @Luxswearshop and on her Facebook page as well. Victoria Birthwright will be happy to take your order at www.luxswear.com. Email: luxswear77@gmail.com Jamaican designer Victoria Birthwright models the long and short forms of her shapewear creations in black CONTRIBUTED Jamaican designer/model Victoria has no secret about her activewear and bra creations (black), accentuated by a hot pink, outer shirt CONTRIBUTED LUXSWEAR FASHION Affordable and comfortable ? ? HOW TO... ? Source: Child Development Agency ADOPT Happy parenting! To be adopted: ■ A child must be over six weeks and under 18 years old. ■ Applications must be received at least six months before a child attains his or her 18th birthday. ■ The birth parents must agree to the adoption by giving their consent except where the parents are dead or the child is a ward of the State. Have you been contemplating adoption but are uncertain or simply do not know how to go about it? You are not alone. Many families that were once uncertain have taken the bold step and have since opened their homes to children who are not their biological offspring while reaping the attendant joys of parenting. Adoption is the process by which a child's biological parental rights are transferred to the adoptive parents. The adoption process is less complex than thought, however, due diligence must be carried out. There are two types of adoption processes in Jamaica: ■ Application for adoption order This is the completion of an adoption in Jamaica, and ■ Application for adoption licence Approval for the release of a child to citizens of scheduled countries to be adopted abroad. A CHILD Adopting in Ja To start the adoption process, you should: ■ Download the adoption form from the Child Development Agency’s (CDA) website at www.cda.gov.jm. ■ Complete and return the form to any CDA office islandwide. ■ You will receive a response within two weeks following the CDA’s investigation stating whether your application has been denied or accepted. ■ If approved, you will receive a second package with a formal application (for completion and return) and a booklet with all documentation required. ■ A case number and case worker will be assigned as well as appointments scheduled, including visits to your home to determine suitability. ■ Upon completion, a case committee report will be submitted to the Adoption Board and the decision communicated to the applicant. ■ The approved case will be prepared for court, to which the applicant will be required to attend. ■ After the order is issued by the court, the adopter will take the document to the Registrar General’s Department, where he or she will apply for the child’s adopted birth certificate Note that when a child is adopted his of her former identity is no longer admissible and his or her former birth record is sealed. Design: Tennesia Malcolm
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