Craziest day today! The week's gone so fast as well and it doesn't feel like I achieved anything major either *sigh* I was supposed to have sorted out the venue for our fashion show by the end of this week...well...I did try. I guess some people still find it hard to return voice mails. We went and saw a few places last week and we think we might have found 'the one', and I was trying to follow up and see prices and sort out... *comes to a screeching halt*I apologise. You're probably like huh?! Fashion show? 'The one'? Let me update you...
There's three of us, me and my two cousins (okay so we're not technically 'cousins' but you know, cousins sha) started this fashion house that specialises in 'authentic african fashions and fabrics' - straight from our business plan *smiles*. We use mainly African fabrics like kente and ankara for our designs. They're wearable and edgy, and I believe they're truly different. Plus I secretly love that feeling when someone says "Oh, I love your skirt/dress, where did you get it from?" and I'm all like "You can't get it. Not telling. Ha!"
Ok, I don't really say that (as satisfying as that would be). I usually go, whilst blushing very modestly,"Oh, I made it". So what started as a hobby between D, E and I (because we were tired of looking like asos-clones and also quite fed up with the bohemian/jungle/graphic print trend some high street stores called 'african' - as if) actually seemed to be getting a lot of interest from friends and family to complete strangers on the underground!
So that's how...*drumroll please*...Renaissance of our Roots (aka RooR) was born. We thought it'd be cool for Africans who live abroad to re-connect to home, as well as allowing everyone else to have a sense of our range of fabrics (seriously,we have a LOT of fabrics) as well as being funky and cool (ice cold baby! Sorry. Have had quite a bit of chocolate cake and I think all the sugar and possible the Baileys icing might have gone to my head)
Anywaaayyyy, so long story short our label was born and we're having a fashion show in November to launch our brand. Yay! Last week we went venue-hunting from Bank to West London looking for the perfect place for our launch. We wanted somewhere cool, that possibly hadn't been over-used, and of course fit in our budget. Some might say that this might not have been the best year to launch a brand, with the recession and all, but even though money's tight we're sure it'll be more than fine. As mama always says, God wil provide. And we did find some cool places that the prices weren't too ridiculous. Having said that however, there were some ridiculous places as well! There was a place in Chelsea that was trying to charge us £15,000 for the night if it was on a Friday or Saturday. Ehmm...excuse me sah but na only fashion show o! Not asif we dey marry for this place *hiss*
Warning: when I'm annoyed the Nigerian in me comes out. Sometimes in igbo, sometimes in yoruba. Sometimes it's just pidgin english. Don't worry. If you stick with me long enough, you'll get the hang of my crazy, sorry, special mannerisms.
£15,000 ke. Especially when there was a place in Mayfair that only wanted £7,000 for the night. Now Chelsea, Mayfair. *raising both hands in comparison* Chelsea, Mayfair...yeah, I think Mayfair wins. Btw, not that we presently have £7,000 to give anyone...
But there was one place that we saw that we're thinking of using. I would tell you but I don't want to jinx it. I promise I shall reveal the lucky venue once we book it and it's confirmed. Which is what I should have done this week if a certain someone had returned my call as promised. I guess I did get some work done, I finished a dress for a client and she looked pretty good in it if I say so myself.
Wow, this has become a massively long post. I apologise for the essay I have given you to read *smiles* I shall leave you now to have a great night. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, and if you must...blame it on Jamie Foxx.
RooR and dark chocolate
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