Ayor Chuot, Nasutu Mbewe, Candice Maberly and Carla van der Walt want to bring the fashions of Africa to Perth.
Camera IconAyor Chuot, Nasutu Mbewe, Candice Maberly and Carla van der Walt want to bring the fashions of Africa to Perth. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie        www.communitypix.com.au d450205

WA fashion show out of africa

Belinda CiprianoStirling Times

The 27-year-old, who has called Perth home for 10 years after leaving war-torn South Sudan, was discovered by Scene Model Management at 19.

She hoped AFWP, which is scheduled to start in February 2017, would be positive for her community.

Ms Chuot, who has travelled the world modelling for international brands including Chanel and Givenchy and has walked the runway for Betsey Johnson in New York Fashion Week, said she was disappointed there was no outlet for her community to showcase its talent.

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She decided to take matters into her own hands and set about organising an AFWP launch night in Balcatta last month with designer friend Candice Maberly to showcase and gauge the talent of African designers and models in Perth.

“There are Africa Fashion Weeks all over the world, including Australia, but nothing here in Perth so I wanted to change that,” Ms Chuot said.

“We have so many beautiful women in Perth from diverse backgrounds, but they don’t feature in a lot of shows here.

“For every 20 blonde models there are two African models and I wanted to give young African women the opportunity to go down this path if they wanted to.

“At the moment there really isn’t anything for them if they are looking to get into this industry, so I am hoping this event will change this.”

The event will showcase labels and local boutiques including Be Africa, Concrete Ambition, Big Boyz, Mama Africa and Africa Style and Beauty.

Mrs Maberly, of Bayswater, said she was happy she and her label Concrete Ambition would form part of the inaugural three-day event. She said Perth had a huge multicultural community but not many people knew of the local boutiques and designers.

“When Ayor approached me I told her it is a great idea, it’s what Perth could have on its calendar and be a wonderful asset,” Mrs Maberly said.

Ms Chuot, who lost her father to war and came to Perth with her family as a refugee, said she took every opportunity presented to her, including this event, as a way to better her life and inspire others.

“My life would be very different if we had not come to Perth,” she said.

The duo is looking for sponsorship, designers, models and committee members. Anyone interested can visit www.facebook.com/Africa-Fashion-Week-Perth-AFWP.