You "play the marse". We take care of everything else.
A Carnival service for Individuals and Section Leaders catering to your every need on the road for Carnival.
About Imagine Marse
About Us
What if you can play mas in your dream individual costume and not have to wonder how you’ll get your drinks, or not have to be concerned about space to enjoy portraying your costume?
Individual costumes and Section Leader costumes as gorgeous as they are, present some problems on the road for masqueraders. As women who live for mas on the road, we have joined forces with the Lost Tribe, designers and service providers to try to anticipate your needs and make the road experience even better. Imagine Marse now handles all the logistics of playing Individual mas with Lost Tribe.
We are Imagine Marse.
How Can We Help
Costumes are too large to access the Drinks and Food trucks - our IM Team will bring your drinks and snacks to you while the band is on the move
Difficulty maneuvering through crowds - we will have Team members guide through to the front of your section (section leaders), or to the front of the band (individuals)
Nearly impossible to take off/put on the costume without assistance to rest while waiting to cross the stage, to go to the restroom, at the lunch stop – the IM Team will be with you every step, or chip or jump, of the way, to assist you with your large backpack, head piece, whatever you need to ensure you’re comfortable playing mas
Hassle for collecting large costumes at Distribution – IM will do the running around for you, collecting your goodie bag, wrist bands and costume, and deliver everything to you. (Individuals only)
We also work with the band’s designers who often produce Section Leader costumes for masqueraders. Imagine Marse can provide our Concierge Experience Service to these masqueraders as well.
Designers
Ben Gayah
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Ben and his team are the creative masterminds behind the elaborate décor that has wowed patrons at Fete with the Saints for the past six years. The team’s work is all around us too – the façade along Tower D at the International Waterfront Centre in Port of Spain, (installed in 2012 for the commemoration of the 50th year of Independence of Trinidad and Tobago), Christmas décor at many of the nation’s malls, and installations at many national and regional events.
Ben has created stages, sets and props for corporate and private clients around the Caribbean, recreating worlds far away, real and imagined.
In 2025, he designed and built two individual costumes for Lost Tribe, and is back with Imagine Marse again, bringing his creative genius to the Island Circus.
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Melissa Simon-Hartman
London-born Melissa is the genius behind the Simon-Harman London brand, and her work is often inspired by her Trini and African heritage.
Melissa is also churning out Carnival craftsmen through her S.H.A.C.E Creative Academy based in the UK and their work has been featured at many carnivals.
Her designs and costumes have been featured in theatre, television and movies. Melissa’s creations have also featured prominently in music videos, most notably, for Beyonce’s Black is King film and Renaissance tour. Melissa was a judge on the locally produced reality tv show Carnival Catwalk, and is joining Imagine Marse with her innovative creations for Island Circus.
Jeneile Mc Carthy
Melissa Simon-Hartman
Jeneile Mc Carthy
Jeneile has been designing elegant, vibrant costumes for Oye Promotion’s Lost Tribe section for years. A feature of her designs is that so many elements of the costume can be repurposed. For example, the standards from the 2025 costume could be hung on the wall as an interesting piece of art, or the accessories can be worn well after Carnival is behind you.
Masqueraders are loyal to her section not only because of the beauty of the costume, but also because they get to relive a little Carnival all year round. For 2026, Jeneile will be creating a unique individual costume for Island Circus.
Individuals
The Process
For Individuals
Our full service offering starts with Registration shortly after Band Launch and ends when you leave the road Carnival Tuesday evening!
- You will be offered sketches by the designers from which to select your Individual costume.
- Once you select an Individual costume and make your downpayment, Imagine Marse will register you with the band, schedule payments and markers for fittings and delivery of your Individual costume.
If you are based in T&T:
- We will meet to have all your measurements taken and discuss the various body wear options for as customised a fit as possible
- Discussions will include the design and size of the backpack to ensure you will be comfortable with the fit for Carnival Tuesday
- We will have two or three on-site consultations with you between Registration and Costume Distribution week in case any tweaks to your Individual backpack or bodywear are necessary
If you are based outside of T&T:
- You will send us your measurements (taken by a trusted professional, we’ll send you a list of required measurements).
- We will send you pictures and videos of progress along the way
- When you arrive in Trinidad for Carnival, we will schedule a fitting session
- The IM Team will ensure that the Individual's Carnival package - registration, goodie bag, wristbands - as well as his/her bodywear and footwear, are delivered to him/her, prior to, but no later than, band's distribution schedule.
Once your final payment is made, the Individual can take possession of the costume or Imagine Marse can store your costume (for a small fee) and deliver the costume to the front of the band on Carnival Tuesday morning before the band moves off.
If the Individual takes possession of the costume, he/she will be responsible for securing the costume, protecting it from damage, and getting the costume to the band on Carnival Tuesday morning. IM will not be held responsible for any damage once the costume is out of our possession, and are under no obligation to take on any repairs, however, if the designer and craftsmen are available, repairs can be effected at an additional cost to the Individual.
The Road Experience
Imagine Marse will provide the following Road Experience services:
- Concierge Service - an IM team member will be assigned to the Individual to assist with putting on/taking off the costume, making minor adjustments if necessary, (tightening or loosening belts and straps, adjusting the headpiece, etc). The Concierge and IM Team Members will be ready to assist with First Aid kits and other road necessities
- Drinks and Snacks - An IM team member will be assigned to assist with getting beverages from the Drinks Trucks, snacks from the Food Trucks, and assist in removing the backpack for bathroom and lunch breaks.
- See more in our On The Road section.
Section Leaders
The Process
For Section Leaders
Once you have chosen your costume and registered with your section, we can provide the following Road Experience services:
- Concierge Service - an IM team member will be assigned to the Section Leader to assist with putting on/taking off the costume, making minor adjustments if necessary, (tightening or loosening belts and straps, adjusting the headpiece, etc). The Concierge and IM Team Members will be ready to assist with First Aid kits and other road necessities
- Drinks and Snacks - An IM team member will be assigned to assist with getting beverages from the Drinks Trucks, snacks from the Food Trucks, and assist in removing the backpack for bathroom and lunch breaks.
- Movement on the Road - IM team members will help guide Section Leaders through crowds to ensure the Section Leaders are comfortably able to lead his/her section across judging points and the Savannah stage
On The Road
Having a beautifully designed and well-fitting costume is just part of the experience. Once on the road, Individuals in The Lost Tribe will have the following:
- Front of Band - the Individuals will lead the band across the judging points, Queen’s Park Savannah Stage, and the Socadrome, guaranteeing ample space and freedom to “Play the Marse!”
- Concierge Service - a team member will be assigned to the Individual to assist with putting on/taking off the costume, making minor adjustments if necessary, (tightening or loosening belts and straps, adjusting the headpiece). The Concierge and IM Team Members will be ready to assist with First Aid kits and other road necessities
- Drinks and Snacks - An IM team member will be assigned to assist with getting beverages from the Drinks Trucks, snacks from the Food Trucks, and assist in removing the backpack for bathroom and lunch breaks.
- Movement on the Road - IM team members will help guide the Individual through crowds to ensure they can play the costume comfortably
- There will be a designated truck to store the costume if the Individual needs a break on the road
- If the Individual chooses, he/she can place the costume on the designated truck at the end of the day (6 p.m.) to be taken to the IM storage facility to be collected by the Individual within seven days after Carnival.
- ADD-ONS (These services are at an additional cost to the Individual)
- Costume storage until Carnival Tuesday
- Personal Road Security
- Photographer will be assigned to take photos of any Individuals who opt in to the Photography Package. After Carnival, the Individual selects 30 photos to be digitally packaged and delivered to him/her.
Fees
Individual and Section Leader Fees
Individual Fees
Full Custom Individual Costume and Experience cost: Between $28,000TTD|$4,200USD and $38,000TTD|$5,700USD
Included:
- Backpack
- Headpiece
- Bodywear
- Decoration of the Individual's footwear
- Accessories
- Band Registration fee
- Concierge Experience Service
- IM Attendants
- Collection and delivery of Goodie Bag
Add-ons:
Personal Road Security: $2,000TTD|$300USD
Photography Package: $2,000TTD|$300USD
Costume Storage (November 2025 to Carnival Tuesday February 17, 2026): Monthly Fee of $400|$60USD
Section Leader Fees
Costume and Experience cost: Between $12,000TTD|$1,800USD and $20,000TTD|$3,000USD
- Custom Backpack
- Section Bodywear and Headpiece
- Section Accessories
- Band Registration fee
- Concierge Experience Service
- IM Attendants
- Add-ons available
For Section Leaders whose costumes are designed and supplied by the Designer of the section, we offer the Concierge Experience Service.
Concierge Only cost: $10,000.00TTD|$1,600USD
Add-ons also available