July 19th-21st saw Pop-Up Shop Supafrik grace London town for a 3 day event which opened with what I’m told, was an amazing launch party on Friday evening. If you attended the event on Sunday you’d also have gotten the chance to take part in ‘Permutations’ – an opportunity to get a graphic ancient benin bronze mask created by Chinedesign screenprinted onto your garment or fabric of choice.
On display at the Old Truman Brewery were creations from the likes of Blkkangaroo, Chichia London, Myriam Maxo, Les Enfants Sauvages many of whom were asked to create specific pieces for the event.
The travelling pop-up shop experience is the brainchild of Toronto-based Nigerian Chinedu Ukabam who you may also know as the designer behind Chinedu Designs. Speaking to us about the inspiration for the event which he calls ‘African Inspired Awesomeness’, Chinedu says:
Supafrik was an idea I had after I finished Business School – I wanted to merge my interest in Social Entrepreneurial endeavours with art and fashion as well as my love for travelling and meeting people. Africa is something that is has inspired my work and started to come across artists whose work was also inspired by the same thing but who weren’t in the same space so I wanted to create something that would bring their work together.
I feel Africa is a lot more visible to people now that it used to be, but it’s still important for me to continue doing as much now as it was when the event started two years ago.
It was refreshing to see a well curated African inspired event and also to see Chinedu taking time to speak to everyone who came in about the pieces. Supafrik has visited Washington DC, Toronto, London and finally Paris It will then travel on to New York later this year.
For more information about where the travelling pop-up shop is heading next check out the Supafrik website