“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” William Polmer

Headpiece by Susan Clarahan

Dress by Morenike Olaosebikan

Last month at Factory Party #6, Calgary Fashion presented Afrikana. The celebration of Africa has been big this year on the runways, Marc Jacobs and Junya Watanbe are only a few that played with the African theme for this season. This year Nigeria's Arise Magazine, Nigeria's new fashion glossy who have been referred to as Nigeria's Interview Magazine also showcased their 4 part runway show, Arise African Fashion Collective at the Mercedes New York Fashion Week for Spring09. So really it kind of made sense for us to take that route, why not show that Africa is very much a part of Calgary as well as Canada?

It was important to showcase Afrikana for us as in 2001, Canada was home to 300,000 individuals of African origin with 23,000 Africans living in Alberta (Statistics Canada 2007).

According to FFWD Magazine: “Alberta’s oil boom, however, has caused a dramatic increase in Calgary’s African population. Official statistics aren’t available, but the Sudanese community claims that it has doubled in the last five years, from 6,000 in 2002 to 12,000 in 2007. Likewise, the small Nigerian community of 400 in 1996 has grown to well over 10,000 today.”

As our city continues to grow we feel it important to promote members of the fashion community who are actively involved in the fashion industry no matter what category they may belong to.

Afrikana showcased, Morenike Olaosebikan + Trendy Strands (Women's Collection), Susan Claharan (Head Pieces) and Haithem Elkadiki (Men's Collection).

For more photos from the event, please visit our Facebook Fan Page.

Illustration: Garrett Naccarato
Photo credit: David J

Head Pieces: Susan Claharan

Clothing: Haithem Elkadiki

Day 4 LG Fashion Week

It's been go go go and I have finally made it to LG Fashion Week.

I can't begin to explain how much of an honour this is for Calgary Fashion.
In the beginning it was clear that of course there are glitches in the system of the way things work but to be surrounded by a majority of Canada's most influential people in fashion is more than I can ask for.

From Calgary, I have run into Lara Presber and Paul Hardy was on site but I must have missed him. I also witnessed the final collections of the Project Runway Contestants. I'm not allowed to say much about the show but I can tell you that each designer has done a phenomenal job.

Aime Luxury was an interesting first show for a collection, of course not everybody can be the big cahuna with their first collection showing but Aime held up and had a couple pieces that i'm sure will delight.

It's mayhem mayhem and more mayhem, what does one do when Coco Rocha walks by followed by Iman and all her people other than stop in your tracks and drool.

Very very powerful women and men in the building.

There are so many bloggers out here and I have finally met Danielle Meder at Final Fashion, I'm also running into fellow bloggers of our scale and it's honestly more than I could ever ask for.

I am shy and timid at the moment but I think the reality of what could be the future for Calgary Fashion is not only exciting but inspiring.

More updates to come.

With love from LG Fashion Week.

Kim