AFRICAN-INSPIRED

STORI

Show strengthens fabric

of local Black community

n the largest African fashion

show in Vancouver, models

couldn't help but dance down

the runway while showing off
the vibrant colours and patterns
created by local African-inspired
designers.

The bi-annual fashion show,
hosted by African Fashion and
Arts Movement Vancouver,
is held in February as part of
Black History Month, and again
in August. The show was held
at South Vancouver’s Scottish
Cultural Centre.

“What we're doing is more
than just showcasing African
fashion, we're showcasing our
culture. We are here in the West
Coast to merge cultures and learn
from each other,” said Emmanuel
Okee, one of 10 designers who
presented at the Feb. 16 show.

AFAM aims to promote Afri-
can fashion and arts by establish-
ing a platform for entrepreneurs
to showcase their work and build
connections, said Lisa-Jane
Hayfron, the event’s public rela-
tions coordinator.

This month’s show featured
performances by local singers
and dancers interspersed between
showing the fashion lines. Guests
were encouraged to mingle,
dance, take photos and partici-
pate in AFAM’s silent auction to

support children’s education in the
West African city of Lomé, Togo
between fashion shows.
Although the AFAM fashion
show is advertised as being for
anyone, regardless of ethnicity,

“What we're doing
is more than just
showcasing African
fashion, we're

showcasing our
culture. We are here in
the West Coast to merge
cultures and learn from

each other.”

— EMMANUEL OKEE, FASHION DESIGNER

volunteers and designers agree
that events like the show can help
unify and strengthen the African
community in Vancouver.

For Okee, events like AFAM
are an important step for building
culture.

“It’s important to come out to
events like this, you know we have
times where we talk about impor-
tant things and the deeper issues,

but sometimes it’s good to just
revel in the spirit of fun and excite-
ment,” said Okee.

AFAM model-turned-designer
Ebru Pinar was inspired to create
her business, Marbling Creations,

after taking a volunteer trip to

Africa last year.

While there, she was influenced
by East African handmade acces-
sories and the plumeria flower
which is local to that region and
created her line to help share
African art with North America.

“In Vancouver, the African
community is not so big and
the one that we have is not sewn
together,” said fashion designer
Ebru Pinar, “so I think this event
brings everybody together, Afri-
can or wherever you are from
in the world. We are all human
beings.”

Pinar, who is Turkish-Cana-
dian, debuted her line at Febru-
ary’s show.

Both Pinar and Hayfron are
encouraging more artists in the
African community in Vancouver
to get involved.

“We would absolutely love more
people to know about this amazing
movement, to have more support
and love as well as more artists in
the African community to partake
in our annual fashion show,”

said Hayfron.

After saving up to buy her
freedom from slavery, Keckley be-
came the personal dressmaker in
the 1860s for Mary Todd Lincoln,
the 16th First Lady.

Lowe made history when she
designed Jaqueline Bouvier's
wedding gown for her 1953 mar-
riage to JFK.

Smith became the youngest
designer in 1971 to be nominated
for a Coty American Fashion Crit-
ics' Award.

Reese has designed for First Lady
Michelle Obama and is one of
today's most successful African-
American designers.

SOURCE: THE DAILY BEAST / ESSENCE.COM

Clockwise from bottom left: the UBC-based dance group
Sin-Birds performs at AFAM's Feb. 16 show; a dress and
cape designed by Ethio Fashion House, which uses hand-
woven cotten fabrics; a model wearing Touch of Africa
strikes a pose on the runway; models showcasing the work
of AFAM's designer of the year, Safari Kabumbe.

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