N.B. fashion group hopes to weave a future for designers of colour

A New Brunswick non-profit group is working put local Black, Indigenous and designers of colour on thefashion map.

United Colorsof Fashionhostedits first global fashion show in Saint John, N.B., on Saturday.

The groupaims to celebrate diversity through fashion and provide opportunities for people of colour who want to craft a career in fashion. This involves training and networking with people in the Maritime fashion industry.

Rufina Ajalie, co-founder of the non-profit, said fashion is about confidence and expression.

"There is a meaning to way United Colors of Fashion started, because we are immigrants," saidAjalie in an interview with CBC News.

"We have a lot of immigrants who are coming in who [would] like to do something fashion ... so I thought, OK, why don't you give them a platform to leverage?"

In June, the group held a training camp to help people who were interested in the industry. Participants were taught how to sew by usinga needle and thread.

More than 250 people gathered to take in the fashions at the Imperial Theatre at theIrving Oil Auditorium on Saturday.

The show featured designers from across New Brunswick and fashions from around the world, from countries like Nigeria, Egypt and parts of Asia.

"We have a goal to make [New Brunswick] a destination for people to come in to watch fashion," saidAjalie, adding they hope to continue hosting fashion shows in the future.

"Fashion is beautiful.... It helps you to really tell your own story and it helps you to stand tall and to be yourself."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.