London’s first ever African Bridal Show (ABS) got off to a triumphant start last week as it showcased the best of traditional African wedding services.
In a one of a kind wedding exhibition, an eclectic collection of wedding services not only restored choice and passion back into the community but demonstrated to visitors how the uniqueness of African bridal beauty can be found right in the heart of London.
Held at the prestigious white stone brick Hallam Conference Centre, no one would expect such vibrancy and energy to resonate from within the building.
Yet once welcomed inside, an entire two floors unveiled a whole range of eager exhibitors- from wedding planners, to dress designers, to caterers and cake makers!
The non-stop buzz throughout the day not only illustrated the enthusiasm generated by the show but also proved that the essence of traditional African culture doesn’t have to be diluted here in the UK.
In fact, the services needed to incorporate African heritage into any special day are right here on our doorstep.
One exhibitor showcasing her bespoke bridal and evening gowns on the day was Kemi Farquarson. Starting out as a new designer, Kemi is passionate about her roots and about bringing them to her work.
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Kemi utilises traditional dress designs and mixes them with African fabrics. Speaking about the day she said:
“It was a great opportunity for us to showcase our Bridal collection. Especially since as Kemi Boutiques’ ready to wear collection was inspired by travel, and specifically created for the bride wanting to reflect her culture be it African or Asian.
It was a wonderful event with a wide variety of exhibitors from designer gowns to talking drums, offering its visitors lots of quality choices for a creative and elegant wedding day.”
ABS claims to have two clear aims; on the one hand giving the community a one-stop-shop for their African wedding, and on the other hand equally passionate about providing exposure for a multitude of African wedding services.
A spokesperson for ABS said: “There are so many interesting parts of an African wedding that we want to see come alive.”
Even those with merely an ear of curiosity found themselves culturally immersed for an hour with over 40 exquisitely decorated stands to look at, a live band and an African DJ to listen to, as well as plenty of free food and cake samples to nibble on!
If you missed ABS, why not look out for The Mahogany Bridal Show, currently the largest African Caribbean bridal fashion show in Europe, which will be taking place on 21st October at Westminster College or the Brides of Culture Multicultural Bridal Exhibition which will be taking place on Saturday the 8th of September 2012.
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What do you think of African Bridal Show? Did you attend this edition or any of their previous events? Are you looking forward to attend the next edition as a guest or an exhibitor? Share your views with us by leaving a comment below. We look forward to seeing and reading your reactions.
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