We Wear Heritage London Fashion Show event - September 16th 2pm-4pm
Time: arrivals from 1pm, show starts at 2pm and finishes at 4pm Location: St Mary’s Church in Marylebone
- Where is St Mary's Church London located? St. Mary's Church is located in Wyndham Place, York Street London, W1H 1PQ, in the United Kingdom.
- By Tube (Subway/Metro): The nearest Underground stations to St. Mary's Church include:
- Marble Arch: Take the Central Line and walk south along Edgware Road to reach the church.
- Edgware Road: Served by the Bakerloo, District, and Circle Lines. The church is a short walk from this station.
- By Bus: Several bus routes run through the nearby areas of Edgware Road and Marble Arch, which are close to St. Mary's Church. You can use bus services to reach the vicinity and then walk to the church.
Be part of this vibrant celebration and discover the beauty and history woven into the fabrics of Brent’s diverse communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness our community’s heritage come alive on the catwalk!
Agenda
13:00 – 14:00
Doors open to the public
14:00 – 15:00
We Wear Heritage Fashion Show Starts
15:00 – 16:00
Indigenous Fashion Show from the Amazon, Brazil Starts
16:00 – 17:00
Networking & Photo Opportunity with Communities and Indigenous Designers
17:00 – 17:01
This project is organised by CVS Brent and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support Brent organisations to develop and deliver heritage projects locally capturing and preserving stories about traditional textiles, clothing or costume of Brent’s diverse communities and sharing that with the wider community.
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating Brent’s rich cultural tapestry through fashion. “We Wear Heritage” brings together 12 diverse community groups from Brent to showcase traditional textiles, clothing, and costumes that tell the unique stories of their heritage.
Each outfit presented on the catwalk is a piece of history, offering a glimpse into the traditional attire of Afghani, African, Brazilian, Chinese, Caribbean, Goan Indian, Iraqi, Mauritian, Romanian, Somali, and Tamil communities. These garments carry each community’s stories, traditions, and cultural significance, many of which are not widely known. It will be an afternoon to remember!
The fashion show is organised by Rafael dos Santos, cultural events producer and director and CEO of Best of Brazil Community, a CIC that produces and promotes Brazilian cultural events. Visit www.bestofbrazil.org for more information.
Indigenous Brazilian Fashion Show
From 3 pm to 4 pm, be prepared to be amazed by the most fashion show you’ve ever seen!
Clothes are designed by Indigenous fashion designers from the Brazilian Amazon Forest. A cooperative that brings together seven indigenous communities led by fashion designer Seanny Arts and directed by her daughter Reby Oliveira.
You will be mesmerised by the creativity, design, fabrics, hand-painted dresses, and much more!
Mi Moda Indigena is the brand of this collective of Indigenous women who are showing the world the culture, heritage, creativity, and strength of the Indigenous people from the Amazon Forest in Brazil.
Their show starts at 3pm, after the We Wear Heritage Show.
COMMUNITIES TAKING PART IN THE WE WEAR HERITAGE PROJECT:
Community: African
Project: A Tapestry of Culture: Unravelling The Threads of African Fabric
The aim of the project is to preserve the heritage of African Fabric, by engaging young people and the wider community by involving a more diverse range of people in the process and outcome. Kojo Baiden will organise collaborative workshops with other. organisations particularly those from underrepresented communities. Our heritage project aims to explore the vibrant history, artistry, and cultural significance of African fabric. Through meticulous research, engaging exhibitions, and community involvement, we intend to celebrate and preserve this integral part of the African diaspora.
Community: Afghani
Project: Afghani Regional Clothing, Textiles and Fabrics
Afghanistan’s traditional clothing is distinguished by its unique designs and colours. Womenswear is often adorned with handmade embroidery on the body and sleeves. The combination of vibrant colours, made famous during the 1960s, highlights the creative expression and know-how of garment makers. The project will gather first-hand accounts from seamstresses and tailors of traditional Afghan garments.
Community: Brazil
Project: Evolution of Brazilian Indigenous Outfits
Organisation: Best of Brazil Community CIC
Events Producer and university lecturer Rafael dos Santos, in collaboration with Indigenous fashion designer Seanny Arts, created a collection of seven outfits showing the evolution of fashion from 1500 to 2000.
The fabrics used to make the outfits are natural materials found in the Amazon. They include bark trees, palm leaves, paint from jenipapo fruit, and fish scales. The Mundurucu tribe wears these outfits. They will impress the audience and show the creativity, history, and rich culture of this Brazilian Indigenous community.
Community: Chinese diaspora
Project: Chinese Take Away Message
Brent Chinese Association uncovers the origins, designs and symbolism of the traditional clothing worn by the diasporic Chinese communities. Examples include the Chenongsam and Hanfu for women and the Tang suit for men. Across the Chinese diaspora, these costumes have been worn through the generations, adapting and evolving, to mark special occasions, such as festivals, births, wedding ceremonies, funerals.
Community: Caribbean ok
Project: Made in Brent
Higher Potential presents clothing from the 1970s/80s era when the music genres of rap, hip-hop, reggae, and soul-funk influenced a generation. Caribbean young people’s clothing style was dependent on the music. They wore tributes, Beaver Hats, tailored suits, and tonic suits, creating trends that contributed to wider youth culture.
Community: Dominica
Project: WOB Dwiyet – Traditional Dominica Dress
Caribbean creole style is rooted in a blend of English, French and African traditions. Created by women of colour during the 18th century it is an eye-catching, cultural expression of Caribbean resilience. Madras fabric plays a significant role in the development of heritage wear, teamed with broderie anglaise and ribbons it reflects the colonial history and the creativity of the Caribbean people. This collection will present the Wob Dwiyet, an elegant gown created and still worn today as a symbol of stature, popular in the French creole speaking islands and the Jip outfit, a less formal alternative for the wearer.
Community: Goan Indian
Project: Goan Traditional Clothing
Community Stars UK CIC shares Goan traditional clothing, which is a rich tapestry of cultural influences resulting from its unique position on the western coast of India. The traditional attire blends indigenous traditions and Portuguese colonial influence. The project connects the costumes worn with specific cultural events of significance within the Goan community. Moreover, some Goan costumes relate to specific performances involving music and dance.
Community: Iraqi
Project: Arabic & Iraqi Folklore Clothing
Iraqi Welfare Association promotes folklore clothing and costumes to represent the area’s ancient cultures and beliefs but also to facilitate a bridge of communication between different communities around the world. They plan to organise heritage festivals to bring diverse communities together.
Community: Iranian
Project: Iranian Traditional Regional Garb
Regional climates shape traditional Iranian women’s attire. This project explores outfits from the different regions of Iran. For example, in Northern Iran, lush green lands with colours and patterns are reflected in the region’s clothing. In the coastal areas, traditional clothing reflects the colours and patterns of water and marine life. In contrast, people living in areas with hotter climates wear lighter, more breathable garments as influenced by the weather conditions. We will celebrate the Festival of Mehregan, which will celebrate the beginning of the autumn harvest in September/October. Storytelling will feature where women share their stories from the regions and craftsmanship.
Community: Romanian
Project: Threads of Tradition: Exploring Romanian Heritage Clothing
My Romania Community presents traditional clothing from different parts of Romania. This project examines Romanian garments’ unique characteristics and cultural significance, highlighting craftsmanship and symbolism. There’s also a royal connection between the UK and Romania through Queen Marie of Romania. They aim to foster intergenerational learning, a sense of representation and belonging, and the importance of cultural exchange.
Community: Somali
Project: Hido iyo Dhaqan Traditional Somali Clothing
Reviving Links CIC is preserving Somali traditional textiles and clothing. This project focuses on intergenerational learning with Brent schoolchildren interviewing elders about the garments, that is, the meaning of the intricate designs, cultural significance and historical narratives. They plan to show how these traditional garments have been shaped by various influences over the centuries and how these garments can enable us to tell stories facilitating cross-cultural exchanges.
Community: Tamil
Project: Tamil Heritage Records
Tamil Association of Brent is creating records of traditional clothing using photography and video. Oral histories are being collected from Tamil elders and dubbed and subtitled in English. The transcriptions will be used to produce an electronic book incorporating the photographs people share. The project will also film a Tamil wedding providing commentary on the rituals and how they have changed over the years. These records will act as a reference for future generations.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the show start?
The first fashion show starts at 2 p.m. We advise attendees to arrive from 1 p.m. onwards to secure a good spot!
Can I secure a place on the front row?
No. Front-row seats are reserved, and names will be added to a separate VIP guest list. If the guest does not attend the show, we might have front-row seats available on the day.
Is there parking?
No. You must search for private parking near St Mary’s Church in Marylebone. We highly recommend you use public transport. Marylebone tube and train stations are less than 10 min walk from the venue.
What time does it finish?
Shows finish at 4pm.
Are there two shows on the same day?
Yes. From 2-3 pm is the cultural fashion show WE WEAR HERITAGE. From 3-4 pm is Mi Moda Indigena, a group of Brazilian indigenous designers from the Amazon, showcasing their collection.
Can we buy clothes on this show?
After 4 pm, you can go to the stand of MI Moda Indigena, and you can purchase outfits you’ve seen on the catwalk as well as bio jewellery made from seeds and plants from the Amazon, handmade by Indigenous designers.
Can I take photos and film?
Yes, you can. Between 4-5 pm, there will be an opportunity for photos with all designers and models from all projects, including the Indigenous models.
Can I bring children to the show?
You can bring children, so long you take them away from the room if they start crying. Professional filming will happen, so we would not like children crying in the background during the filming.
Do I need a ticket per person or can I get 1 ticket for my whole family?
For example, if your family has five people, you will need to sign up for five tickets. Each ticket is assigned to one chair, so if one person signs up and turns up with four more people, the four people who didn’t sign up won’t be able to sit down; they will have to stay in the standing area.
