Dressed to impress: African and NCAD fashions celebrated

THE SUN brought out a vivid display of African style on George’s Dock, Dublin, yesterday and also shone on the National College of Art and Design’s graduating fashion stars at the weekend.

A two-day festival celebrating African diversity and success included a fashion competition drawing entries from residents of Ireland from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia and Kenya.

“Leave the ordinary behind” appeared on one slogan, and it certainly showed in the sheer flamboyance of the native costumes sported by both sexes of all ages.

Winner of the best-dressed woman award was Ayantu Banti from the Oromia region of Ethiopia in traditional dress with beading decor and head-dress. Other winners were Aso Ola from Nigeria (best-dressed man), whose black velvet shoes featured a gold map of Africa; Pamela Boloyi from South Africa (best-dressed child); and the Shidaad family from Kenya (best-dressed family).

The festival featured music performances, rap, hip hop, DJ sets, film screenings, workshops, an African bazaar, a speaker’s corner and spontaneous eruptions of dance from the light-hearted crowd who milled around eating ice-cream and revelling in the sunshine.

On Thomas Street, NCAD’s annual fashion show showcased not only the graduating fashion and textile students but also up-and- coming second-year talents.

The 15 fashion graduates blended conceptual and commercial skills well, with textile students leaning as much towards fashion as fashion students to textiles.

The collections were diverse, from Siobhán Moran’s dreamy tulle ballgowns to the androgynous abstracted menswear of Hannah Furlong. Blathnaid McClean’s shadow play on silk was polished, as was Lisa Wynne’s elegant take on Japanese style. Both Michael Power and Miriam Phelan played with latex, Phelan layering it with Eton stripes and organza.

Several students are already doing well: Róisín Fallen Bailey won the River Island bursary and internship; Suzanna Melinn has been shortlisted for the Mittelmoda award in Italy; and there are five NCAD finalists for the Persil fashion awards to be announced on June 6th.