Fashionistas will be able to shake off their frosty winter plumage and warm up to vibrant multicultural beats, colours and culinary delights at the Delta Hotel on April 4. A local event-planning company is promoting the event – “A Culture Chic Affair” – to showcase emerging creative talents from Ottawa’s African and Caribbean communities.
“I’m really focusing on Afro-Caribbean cultures and businesses, because I feel they are not as recognized in Ottawa,” says Divine Mwimba, an event co-ordinator with RSVP Events, an Ottawa-based firm that plans weddings and organizes business meetings.
“A Culture Chic Affair” will include African drummers, art displays, and highlight African-inspired fashion design in Ottawa. The music lineup features local singer Nancita Kapi and Ottawa DJ ensemble Tribal Threat. Caterers, including Taste of Africa and Aunt Thelma’s, will be dishing out traditional African finger foods and treats in the conference centre of the Lyon Street hotel.
All the proceeds from a silent auction will go to Nelson House, an organization that provides shelter for abused women and children.
According to Mwimba, RSVP has found it difficult in the past to plan for multicultural weddings and events in Ottawa.
“We simply could not find vendors to cater to these needs,” she says. “Our clients were often outsourcing these services from outside to get an authentic experience.”
RSVP decided to do some research. “We found a few good vendors in our city and then decided to do an event to inspire these businesses and give them the recognition they deserve,” says Mwimba.
The helping hand is coming at the right time. The demise of the semi-annual Ottawa Fashion week in 2014 sent a chill through the local fashion industry. Young professionals such as 22-year-old Faduma Sidow, who specializes in women’s fashion with a nod to her Somali heritage, were forced to find other ways to promote their products.
“I find it difficult as a designer (in Ottawa) to be able to showcase my work on a large scale or find the right opportunities,” she says.
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She says A Culture Chic Affair is a welcome addition to the style calendar in a town that is not known for having a thriving fashion sector.
“I heard about the event through a friend of mine, so I got in touch with Divine Mwimba, thinking it would be a great way to gain some exposure and meet others in the industry,” says Sidow.
Widlyne Alcy is another rising fashion talent in Ottawa. Her brand, Delilah Rose, has been featured on CTV Morning Live and culture blog Apartment 613 and is characterized by colourful swimsuit looks. But like Sidow, she says she needs more in the way of local events to help her business grow.
According to Alcy, there are many challenges in Ottawa for fashion designers. “In the past we had Ottawa Fashion Week, but now that is gone, it is hard to get out there and introduce ourselves to consumers,” says Alcy.
“It definitely takes a lot of networking, but with the lack of people working in the fashion industry in Ottawa, things are extremely difficult.”
While RSVP’S event will focus on African culture, the exhibited designs come from a variety of influences. Alcy says her products must ultimately appeal to a broad range of customers.
“My work is not specifically informed by African designs, but it is influenced by all types of women. My clothes are fun, risqué, colourful, and flirty,” says Alcy.
Sidow agrees.
“The Somali culture is filled with a variety of influences. I add my North American upbringing, so my work is a mix of cultural references,” says Sidow.
Mwimba says it’s important to support ethnic diversity in local businesses, because ultimately everyone benefits. She has seen how this works in cities such as Montreal and Toronto, and hopes to see the same thing happen in Ottawa.
“I am from Africa, but I grew up travelling the world. I’m glad to see the African and Caribbean communities open up businesses here,” says Divine.
“It’s like home away from home.