Help Wanted! Apply Within.

We are looking for interns and volunteers to work on some exciting projects we have lined up for 2016 in the Toronto area. If you have an affinity for contemporary African culture and a passion for fashion or the arts, we have some awesome opportunities that you will definitely be interested in. You can find more information on the paid internships and volunteer positions below.

 

1) Communications Intern (1 position)

2) Studio Manager /Artist Assistant Intern (2 positions)

3) General Volunteers (3 positions)

 

To Apply:

1. Research past events such as Afrotropolis Wonderland, MasqueradeTO, Palattes of Africa and The (Re)Generator Project to get a feel for the tone and scope of the projects that we produce.

2. Send an email to Lucy@supafrik.com with your resume and cover letter outlining what you bring to the table and what you hope to gain from the experience. Be sure to indicate with position or positions you are applying for.

3. Feel free to put some thought/creativity into your application but hurry! Deadline is December 23! Good luck!

 

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Position: Communications Intern

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Key Responsibilities:

Act as social media liaison. This will involve but is not limited to:

* Documenting the work in progress of the artists working on the projects

* Generating original content around the various projects

* Sending out personalized email PR blasts to blogs

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SUPAFRIK is coming to NEW ORLEANS! November 12 – 15

We are taking the SUPAFRIK pop-up back on the road again! In less than two weeks we will be touching down in New Orleans for a 4 day food, fashion, art extravaganza! From November 12 – 15, SUPAFRIK will serve as a space and destination event where creative expressions from all over the African continent and communities in the diaspora will meet the rich and multilayered cultural milieux that New Orleans is world famous for.

We are pulling out all the stops for NOLA! The festivities kick off from 7PM on Thursday with an art exhibit titled “Nesting: The Makings of Home” at The Joan Mitchell Foundation (2275 Bayou Rd) featuring  a selection of works by Shoshanna Weinberger (Newark, New Jersey), Shannon Lewis (Berlin, Germany), Heather Hart(Brooklyn, New York), photographer Patrick Melon (New Orleans) and a performance art piece by Rebecca Mwasse(New Orleans via Zimbabwe) drawn from her latest play Looking At a Broad. Complementary catering will be provided by local Afro-fusion pop-up foodies the Black Swan Food Experience. The SUPAFRIK pop-up shop will also be open for the duration of the four days selling a selection of cutting edge fashion from Osei Duro (Made in Ghana), New Orleans based DopeCiety, a new collection from Chinedesign (Toronto) and top sellers from Blkkangaroo. The shop will also a curated selection of art and art objects from Material Life Nola (including coveted limited edition pieces by Kehinde Wiley and Chris Ofili)

Other events in the line-up include a runway and live-mannequin fashion show, a theatrical production, an art panel discussion on creativity, a movie and an African-themed masquerade ball featuring Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band (Friday). Not to mention a “Gumbo” party featuring a first time historical collaboration between Toronto and New Orleans DJs connecting the dots by mixing musical flavors from NOLA, Africa and the Caribbean.

It is all as exciting as it sounds. Check back often as we reveal more details over the next few days. We don’t want to overwhelm you with too much goodness at one time!

#MasqueradeTO Behind the Scenes Part 3 (Fitting and Rehearsal)

The last of the behind the scenes series for Chinedesign’s Masquerade which took  place in February. Thanks for making it a huge success! Full coverage of the show will be released this summer.

#MasqueradeTO Behind the Scenes Part 2 (Couture Kitchen)

A behind the scenes taste of what’s cooking in the couture kitchen for Chinedesign’s Masquerade collection debuting at #MasqueradeTO February 15, 2013.

This video is the second in a series documenting the creative process leading up to the event. Stay tuned for more and visit chinedesign.com/masquerade for more information. Twitter/Instagram: #MasqueradeTO

Video by Anthony DelaCruz. Photographs by Simone Lynn.

Masquerade – Multimedia Fashion Presentation and Masked Ball Party

#MasqueradeTO on twitter

On February 15, 2013 masked and decorated guests will join to celebrate modern fashion infused with African and Caribbean aesthetics and traditions. Toronto fashion label, Chinedesign presents “Masquerade”; the brand’s second exhibition mixing fashion and art as part of TD’s “Then and Now” Series for Black History Month.

Masquerade as it is performed all over Africa, is a complex and often secret ritual that is interwoven into the religious, political and social fabric of the people. The masks or the masquerade costumes are often believed to represent the spirits of ancestors and local deities. Carnival as it is practiced in the Caribbean and in South America is a mix of European and African notions of Masquerade and is becoming increasingly popular in Africa as well.

“Growing up in Nigeria, I have always been fascinated by Masquerades. I was captivated by the myth, costumes, and entranced by the music.” Shares Chinedu, designer of Chinedesign.

Taking place simultaneously with popular Carnival celebrations around the globe, the evening will feature a mix of cultural elements beginning with a Diptych digital presentation by Another Africa, depicting the influence of African Masquerade on fashion, photography and art. The Masquerade Collection runway presentation is paired with an original soundtrack composed exclusively by Chinedu, and to celebrate the Carnival festivities a Masked Ball will follow where masks are mandatory until midnight.

The avant-garde “Masquerade” Collection features more than a dozen looks that Chinedu describes as, “designed for the spirits”, including custom designed prints. Each design features unorthodox materials such as cowry shells, woven chains, fringed leather, lace, traditional African indigo fabric, plants and large seeds that are commonly used in West African masquerade. Exquisite headpieces created in collaboration with British Milliner Keiron Vine, complete the style.

“As a fashion designer, my appreciation of masquerade has come to take on another dimension. I am enthralled by the aesthetic and garment technology of the masquerade and I have long nurtured the idea of creating my first “couture” collection, as opposed to “ready to wear”, by deconstructing and remixing elements of masquerade “

The event will take place on Friday February 15th at Daniels Spectrum, located at 585 Dundas Street East, Toronto. Doors open at 9pm and the multimedia fashion presentation will begin at 10pm followed by the Masquerade Ball. The style code is formal or African Traditional and masks are mandatory until midnight. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.chinedesign.com/masquerade