This weekend, Nov. 4-6th, is the one and only African Fashion Weekend 2016, Tallahassee’s Premier Ankara Fashion Show. This is the first time an event like this will be held in the Capitol city. Kandis May, the owner, designer and seamstress of Kuumba Creations, LLC, envisioned the event and is bringing it to life with the African cultural aesthetic.
“The concept came up about 2 years ago. I had been thinking about it for a year, and then I started to plan it last year November. The concept came up because they have fashion weeks all over, they have African fashion weeks, but I said I don’t really want to do a whole week. So that’s where the weekend came in,” said May. “I think it’s unique because you don’t really hear fashion weekends. The African fashion came in, because just from doing my research, I haven’t seen where Tallahassee has had anything African-fashion related. They have expos and everything, they do a good job with them, but they are not really centered towards the cultural preservation of African beauty.”
For May, the passion and pursuit to create clothes that preserve African beauty stemmed from her childhood memories. Her mother is a seamstress and tailor who once owned a clothing line where May got to witness firsthand the ins and outs of designing and running a clothing business.
“Throughout my entire life, I always been surrounded by sewing machines and thread and needles. I got involved because that’s what she grew up doing and it’s always been a part of my life. She taught me to sew around 9 years old. My mother was always painting and doing something creative so throughout my childhood that’s how i got involved in fashion,” said May.
Her memories include her roots and heritage, which has had the biggest influence on her style. May grew up with the African aesthetic in her home, from masks on the wall, pictures, magazine books, to her mother’s kente fabric curtains. Naturally, the African diaspora became her biggest inspiration.
“Typically I always looked at the tribal pictures of when they are around a fire, when they're in their natural element, or in the woods. I always looked at those different colors and different pieces, and try to created something different and new. My African heritage, culture, and the colors have really inspired my designs,” said May.
May grew up celebrating Kwanzaa, which is a week long holiday from December 26 to January 1 that celebrates African tradition, values and heritage. May’s mother called herself Kuumba as a stage name for her clothing business. Kuumba is the 7th principle of Kwanzaa and it means in Swahili to create, or creativity. Then when May’s mother had an unfortunate incident, it stopped her from doing what she loved most. This is what inspired May to create her own clothing line.
“My mother broke her neck, and she stopped sewing for a very long time. So as a way to inspire her to get her back into life, I created Kuumba Creations, LLC. That was a way for me to say hey mom this is not the end, that you keep moving,” said May.
Kuumba Creations is dedicated to the cultural preservation of the African aesthetic. It is African beauty and everything that goes with it: fashion and fashion design, jewelry, and art. To May, It’s also being able to create things that make the black community beautiful and celebrate the heritage of African roots, because even though we no longer live in Africa, Black America is considered the diaspora of Africa. This is why the African Fashion Weekend will be one of a kind.
“Tallahassee African Fashion Week is more than just fashion, it's more than just building a name for myself. It’s on my birthday, so it’s my birthday celebration. Kuumba Creations started with my mother, so it's also a childhood memory, that’s created into an actual memory for my children," said May.
The events kick off today, Nov. 4, with a Meet & Greet at Aponi Clan Boutique from 4-9 pm. The timeline of events includes the Kuumba Beats Day Party on Saturday from 10am-12pm, and then the main event, the Ankara Fashion Show from 1-5 pm. The weekend of events closes out with the Kuumba Pop Up Shop on Sunday from 2-5 pm.
“I tried to do something different by having the Kuumba Beats Day party in the beginning, and then having the fashion show at the end,” said May. “I also wanted to showcase designers that people don’t know about because a lot of times we will showcase the same designers over and over again. I just wanted to give up and coming designers a chance to showcase their designs and myself as well.”
According to May, this weekend will be a history lesson, as well as a celebration of roots and culture. It will also be an opportunity for the larger community to embrace and embody the African diaspora, because no matter where you come from, or your ethnicity, everything began with Africa.
“I am most excited about the people coming, and networking, enjoying each other, having fun, and just seeing how things go. This is my first show that I have planned for myself, so I am just excited to see the outcome. Being backstage, the makeup, the hair, the fashion, the vendors, and African drumming, the food, I’m just excited about what this is going to turn into.” said May.
To find out more about AFW, find it here. Tickets are on sale now for $15. To find out more, visit Eventbrite.
