African Fashion Weekend

Job losses, businesses closing and terrible problems besetting the national finances are all over the news. We need something to get away from the depression. The African Fashion Weekend allows us the chance to do exactly that.

This Saturday evening couldn’t be more unlike Africa. The weather outside is cold and wet, but inside it’s nearly tropical. The focus is on the ladies, African ladies. Lights are shining brightly as people are flashing cameras. Tonight’s venue (Bewley’s Hotel, Ballsbridge) is hot and it, hopefully, will get even hotter as the evening progresses. This is what bachelors like me describe as heaven.

Urban chic is the style tonight. You simply cannot ignore the glamour (am I still in Dublin?). French music permeates the hall as dazzling models swan down the catwalk. My jaw drops as the models pass my way and it confirms my view that African women are in a league of their own when it comes to beauty.

We are introduced to some belly dancing with a solo performance from an Irish woman, Roisin. She wiggles her stomach, shakes her hips and shows off her wonderfully exotic tattoos. Jewels seem to hang from all over her body. There are more jingling sounds than an average rattlesnake, while the excitement grows. The poor girl is near to expiring as our host, an outgoing lady with a London accent, asks about Roisin’s belly dancing classes. My belly never felt fatter!

“Are we ready for the next designer?” asks the host and I’m beginning to think this is what a classy Hen night must be like. The material tonight is truly exotic, another example of the wonderful dress sense Africans are blessed with. You’d think all the outfits are touched by God – they’re immaculate.

The models continue to pummel the catwalk and, even though not a designer, I feel like Karl Lagerfeld. There are a number of breaks to proceedings but there is seldom a quiet moment here in the Thomas Prior Hall. A young fellow is doing break dancing, the girls are going wild and the drinks are flowing.

But the main reason for African Fashion Weekend is the outfits which fit perfectly and are mesmerising to look at. One can scarcely guess how much they all cost. Confidence and extravagance come to the fore as the designers pitch their skills to us all.

The night goes well and, as far as I can tell, everything runs without a hitch. This is another opportunity to learn more about African culture and provides a showcase to some of the best fashion the continent has to offer. Hopefully this event will be an annual fixture, it bristles with plenty of positive energy. Truly delightful.

This article is dedicated to Toyosi Shittabey (15 years) R I P