SUPAFRIK #7 Coming to Toronto!

WHAT: SUPAFRIK Pop-Up Shop/Gallery WHEN: Sunday September 21st
ONE DAY ONLY: 1PM – 7PM WHERE: TAC Art/Work Gallery, 568 Richmond Street West, Toronto

SUPAFRIK returns to its Toronto roots after well received installations in Washington DC, London and Paris. With a limited edition focus, SUPAFRIK #7 will feature a collaborative one-off capsule collection from Chinedesign and Parisian conceptual artist MyriaMMaxo (renown for her riotously colorful “objet d’art” waxprint teddies) who will also be in town to launch the collection. Chinedesign’s #TheBravingRitual collection, the label’s first foray into eclectic winterwear combining tartans and indigo-dyed mud cloth will also be exclusively available for made-to-measure custom orders. Also featured: luxurious handwoven scarves from newly-minted Ethiopia-based African Design Hub label which will be making its Canadian-debut at SUPAFRIK roster. SUPAFRIK will also feature a tasting menu of Afro-fusion culinary delights by Zimbabwean cook Rufaro, original artwork by Oluseye and a preview of BLKKANGAROO’s BLKKMARKET, its first capsule collection of structured t-shirts and unisex kaftans inspired by the color, texture and vibrancy of the West- African market experience.

For bargain hunters, there will also be discounted goodies from the online store from such as UK based clothing “Made in Africa” label Chichia London (Beyonce is a fan!) whose street-smart collection is ethically manufactured in Tanzania using traditional kanga textiles as well as fashion sneakers from Mos Def’s new favorite shoe brand SAWA, designed in Paris and made in Addis Ababa.

Advertisement

New fashion addition to SUPAFRIK: London-based Chichia

London based and ethically manufactured in Tanzania, Chichia is one the featured designer labels at SUPAFRIK. The few pieces that we showcased at our Afrofest booth this weekend were enthusiastically and obsessively well received. 

SUPAFRIK Pop-Up Invading Toronto’s Queen West!

It’s almost been six months since the last one and 1 year since the inaugural SUPAFRIK. Now it’s time for the third. We have been travelling the digital and analog world in the time in-between and can’t wait to share with you the unique artists, artisans and designers that we have discovered. Last summer, we set up shop in the Kensington Market, this time around we take the SUPAFRIK concept to the heart of Toronto’s fashion district on Queen West. As usual, we will be showcasing art, fashion, homeware etc created in Africa or with an African inspiration. A big launch party(Saturday July 21st) is in the works as well as some other surprises over the course of the two weeks. For now just stay tuned to this blog and clear your calendars!

The 2012 Summer Edition of SUPAFRIK takes place from July 20th to August 4th at 627 Queen Street West and is co-presented by Chinedesign and Norman Felix Gallery.

A More In-depth Look into Afrotropolis Wanderland

Still shot from Afrotropolis Wanderland

2012 is here and moving quickly! It is already the second week of January, which means Afrotropolis Wanderland is right around the corner!

Taking place on February 4, 2012 and sponsored by TD as a part of their Then and Now festival in celebration of Black History Month,  Afrotropolis Wanderland will be a creative experience merging the worlds of visual arts, fashion and film to create a universe that commemorates different periods in Black history and celebrates the achievements of people of African origin. Advance tickets ($20) can be purchased at  http://afrotropolis.eventbrite.ca

We tapped into the mind of Chinedu of Chinedesign, the creative director behind the Afrotropolis Wanderland project to gain a better understanding of the show and the entire experience that is Afrotropolis Wanderland.

The Buzz Thus Far

This weekend we had a booth at Toronto’s annual Afrofest festival to promote the SUPAFRIK concept and listen to what people had to say about it. The feedback on the ground is very positive and we are energized by the creative talent pool that is Toronto.

The PR buzz for the pop-up has also been great so far, garnering mentions in some of the mainstream downtown Toronto print and online media, ahead of our media-only soft launch today.

NOW Magazine‘s Andrew Sardone listed SUPAFRIK as one of the “can’t miss debuts” in his style notes/store of the week column
The Grid mentions SUPAFRIK in its weekly selection of notable fashion events called “The Drop”
Blogto.com‘s Paul Agguire mentions SUPAFRIK in  “This Week in Fashion” second only to the Joe Fresh store opening
Torontolife‘s highly coveted The Hype lists SUPAFRIK launch event on their “Todolist” along with Festival of India and the Taylor Swift concert
Metromorning on CBC Radio also name checked the SUPAFRIK launch as one of the top events to check for this weekend.
The Torontoist compiles a list of must-see events every weekend in a section called The Urban Planner . SUPAFRIK made the cut!

Blogs like iwantigot and ciaafrique have also been instrumental in spreading the word as their posting has been copied, pasted and reposted by others in the blogsphere

It’s looking great. See you on Friday!

Just a Reminder
The shop will be open from 3PM – 6PM. We might stop selling and close the registers for the launch party taking place from 7PM – 11PM
Items are in limited quantities so come aerly if you have your eye on anything in particular.