African Fashion "Many Threads – One Cloth"

St. James’ Cathedral presents a multi-faceted exhibit on Africa through the lens of couture.

October 27 & 28: Registration needed. Get tickets on Eventbrite.

October 29: Free of charge.

Tickets are $50 and include admission to both the Friday Evening Gala and the full-day Saturday program. Food and drink are included. Tickets for Friday/Saturday are limited and must be purchased in advance.

The Sunday events are free and open to the public.

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PROGRAMME:

DAY 1: Friday Evening 6:30 PM - October 27 – Gala Opening

*Fashion show -featuring designers and alumni from George Brown College and Toronto Metropolitan University’s fashion programmes.

*Keynote speakers on fashion, culture, and Africa.

*Demonstration of African headpiece tying.

*Reception featuring storytelling, steel pan music, African finger food, and exhibits.

Guests are encouraged to wear their own African and African-inspired fashions.

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DAY 2: Saturday, October 28 - 8:45 AM – 4:00 PM – Full Day Programme

*African history, society, culture, economics, and the future of African fashion

*Lectures and panel discussions by expert speakers

*Tales of Africa by professional storytellers

*Poet laureate George Elliot Clarke will present a poem in honour of this event.

*African drumming, Egyptian band playing on traditional instruments, and music played on a are seperewa – a 17th-century Akan harp-lute.

*Lunch will be provided, and exhibits continue throughout the day.

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DAY 3: Sunday Afternoon - October 29 - 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM – Free to the Public at large

Ongoing exhibits, coffee, and a full program of African music and dance in the Cathedral and Cathedral Centre.

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Overview:

Think of a continent at the centre of the world. The birthplace of the human race, a land impossibly rich in natural resources, of ancient cultures, storied trade routes, stunning landscapes, and incomparable wildlife.

That continent is Africa – the second-largest land mass on the planet.

This vast expanse is home to 54 countries and many diverse peoples speaking more than 1500 languages – from Arabic on the northern coast to the Niger-Congo and Bantu tongues of the Subsaharan region and the Malagasy of the east-coast island of Madagascar.

Blessed with a young population, Africa is undergoing phenomenal transformative development across many social and economic spheres. One of these is the evolution of a bold and innovative fashion and textile industry, whose presence is increasingly important on the global stage.

The Cathedral Church of St. James invites you to join us in celebrating Africa’s traditional and contemporary fashion in African Fashion: Many Threads – One Cloth. Using design and couture as a starting point, this exhibit will take a close look at the continental mosaic through the lens of its vibrant textile industry and uniquely African couture. It will explore the impact of its distinctive fashion on the fabric of its domestic economy and on the international fashion stage – an influence increasingly seen on the runways of Paris, Milan, and New York.

The exhibit will also weave in many other aspects of African life: cuisine, music, dance, story-telling, and artefacts. In addition to a live fashion show featuring African textiles and couture, there will be a series of expert lectures. These will outline Africa’s ethnic and linguistic diversity, changing demographics and rapidly transforming societies, and economic/ecological challenges.

This exhibit is a collaboration of many dedicated volunteers. Please join us in our salute to this phenomenal continent.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

St. James Cathedral Centre Event Venue, 65 Church Street, Toronto, Canada