AFWT 2023
This post was first published in This Weekend I Noticed. a weekly-stitch journal exclusive to The T. subscribers.
“Great teams are mutual admiration societies who get to work together.”
— Jason Fried
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This weekend I noticed.
A Weekly-ish Stitch Journal
100 words or less. Sometimes more.
26-27 August, 2023
AFWT 2023
This weekend I noticed Black people working together effortlessly, tirelessly, and effectively to achieve a single vision: a couture runway experience featuring Adebayo Jones. The event was African Fashion Week Toronto, and my role was that of volunteer Brand Ambassador. I arrived on location at GOlive TV a little later than scheduled at 2:30pm alongside two other volunteers. We bonded over our inability to locate the obscure studio entrance. The AFWT team was lingering outside, waiting for a studio taping to conclude so they could begin set-up. Eventually we gained access. Volunteers, models, makeup & hair crews hovered restlessly in the hallways, waiting for direction. After what seemed like a slow start, the team sprung into action. There was couture fashion to unpack, steam and organise, racks to build, signs to put out, mannequins to dress, models to makeup, social media content to curate and the occasional bite of pizza to be had. The atmosphere backstage grew increasingly frantic as we drew closer to showtime. There were models to dress and style – all hands on deck, the first and only dress rehearsal and guests and media to welcome. In the chaos I observed three things: teamwork, ca·ma·ra·de·rie, and determination. We were all of one mind, that is, to put on the best show. At last, about an hour past showtime, we were ready to begin. In true Black African fashion, the couture experience was beautiful, elegant and entertaining.
Les Africains, forever late to the party but we always have the most F U N.
ca·ma·ra·de·rie
: mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. (Oxford Dictionary)
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