Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

The Emancipation Support Committee’s second annual fashion show, “Qurux 2,” on July 3, promises a range of designs from local African designers and designers from the African Continent. Consultant Michael Christopher said “Qurux” is Somali for African Beauty, which the show celebrates.

“We celebrate African beauty through the fashion on display, the models that take the runway, the food we partake in and the music and the entertainment we enjoy on the day.” Christopher said for years, fashion worldwide and in Latin America and the Caribbean, has been dictated by European tastes and trends. However, he said within the last decade, the African and Caribbean aesthetics have come to the fore through the use of different fabrics and prints. “As the global fashion industry continues its search for something new, it seems they are gravitating to Caribbean expressions, so we saw it as the opportune time to position something such as this to lift the profile of the African and the Afro-Caribbean individual, so that person has an opportunity to embrace their heritage on a different level.”
He said through the fashion show, the Committee hopes to plant seeds of pride and celebration within the T&T community, “because being a post-colonial society, we’ve been taught and we’ve been trained that our heritage is something to be muted or not to be celebrated. We are all Trinidadians, we are all one people. However, because of political, social and economic elements, certain types of behaviour and perspectives has stayed with us as a nation, where races and ethnicities are in competition. What we hope to see is that our people can understand you can be proud of your heritage and your heritage could be showcased in a way just like anything else that you may see around the world.”
Christoper said the Committee also hopes to see real trade and real business come about through increases in sales of African-themed garments from all of the designers and fashion houses. The local designers will include Andre Lovelace – The Nubian Experience; Christian Bocaud Designs; Darriane Phillips (Tobago) – Euphoric Designs; David George – Daniel’s Den of Fashion; Derron Attzs – Derron Attzs Design Label; Johann Mohammed – African Ark Jewellery and Clothing; and Shaun Perez – Shaun Griffith Perez Designs.
Designers from the African continent designers will include Aseefa Martin (Ethiopia), Faustina Ansong (Ghana), Josephine Hayford (Ghana), and Lecthris Holder (Liberia, Nigeria).
Christopher said entertainment will include traditional African dance and drumology. There will also be pop-up booths showcasing traditional African accessories, jewellery, handbags and craft.
The show will again be held Under the Trees at the Hotel Normandie in St. Ann’s. Tickets cost $250 advanced and $300 for reserved seating. Information can be found at the Emancipation Support Committee itself at 678-9983 or 680-2483 or 680-5221 as well as the Emancipation Support Committee on Facebook.

Originally published in the T&T Guardian, July 3, 2016