A local gym will morph into a fashion show catwalk as businesses around Victoria pitch in to raise funds for various causes in Africa.
Emerge Squared, a fashion show taking place at Studio 4 Athletics, is being hosted by Siyon Studios, a local clothing/art company made up of young artists who are devoted to bringing awareness to social justice issues and help causes in third-world countries.
“Africa has been through so much, yet there is still an abundance of beauty and resources that it offers and we try to reflect that message in our clothing,” says Eric Mazimpaka, Siyon Studios’ co-founder and artist.
Local clothing companies and salons are donating their time to prepare the models that are hitting the catwalk.
“I’m excited to get all dressed up and help support a good cause,” says Leah Varga, a 17-year-old student from Mt. Doug Senior Secondary. “I hope that fellow Mt. Dougers will come support me and get interested in the cause.”
Second-year Camosun student Jelene Hofer is excited about watching models show off local fashions and seeing local artwork.
“I love the idea of this fashion show. I love going to events that are artsy, cultural, and support a good cause. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the different styles in the fashion show and picking up some fashion tips,” says Hofer.
Siyon Studio’s 2012 apparel is designed to create conscious thinking. They’ve fused ancient designs with newer shapes and concepts to create intricate stories and meaning behind each design.
“My paintings are graphically altered into negatives by my partner Kevin Parks, who’s a graphic designer,” says Mazimpaka. “We silkscreen our designs on to shirts which we use as a medium to spread and support our message.”
One of Siyon’s recent designs called “Never Forgotten” features elephants and machetes, because elephants never forget, and the machetes represent the sacrifice of lives that have occurred in the world through war and civil unrest.
“We can never forget what cultivated us to where we are,” says Mazimpaka. “We can only grow from them, learn from them, and take tragedy and make something positive out of it.”
Emerge Squared
Saturday, April 21, 8pm
Studio 4 Athletics (715 Yates St.)
siyonstudios.com