- As Black History Month reaches its end for another year Manchester’s BIPC plays host to a vibrant collection of the region’s leading black businesses, business leaders and entrepreneurs.
- Approximately 36% of customers who use the BIPC Greater Manchester are from BAME communities.
- This event will showcase the businesses of some of those customers set against a backdrop of spectacular music and art with fashion taking centre stage.
On Friday 28th October the spectacular Shakespeare Hall in Manchester’s Central Library will host an event which will prove that history, and in this case Black History, is very much rooted in the present – not simply the past.
A glamour-infused fashion show from design houses Cultureville, Lohi Fashion, Bittany and Not Your Trend will sit central to the evening: an occasion which spotlights history in the making.
Cultureville who are co-producers of the event is a Manchester-based, award-winning fashion brand specialising in handcrafted clothing and accessories featuring bold African wax prints in contemporary designs. The business was founded by Adeola and Ronke Jane Adelakun. Their vision: to make modern African fashion more accessible to everyone. Cultureville’s journey to date has been supported by the BIPC particularly in the areas of digital marketing, product showcasing and also sitting central to a sustainability workshop presented to existing and aspiring business owners.
Adeola Adelakun says, “The support of the BIPC in training us on digital marketing and exposing our brand to a wider audience has been invaluable!”
Cultureville is producing the event in partnership with BIPC and Monique Kuffour, the Founder & CEO of BOB Expo the largest Shopping Expo featuring Black businesses in the UK.
The evening will be hosted by Carol-Ann Whitehead, fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Founder of the Zebra Partnership, and Kemoy Walker, Prominent DJ and founder of KYSO. Amongst others contributing to the evening are Venessa Scott, Artist and specialist in Creative Education, Founders of The Poetry Place, Griot Gabriel and Cherelle Anne.
Further details of all contributors can be found in the Editors’ Notes below.
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said:
“Our event will spotlight local, Black-owned businesses. Cultureville is an example of a business who made use of the expertise available in our BIPC and are now, thanks to their hard work and creative flair, able to showcase the wonderful work they are creating to a wide audience.
This event is a great way for us to mark Black History Month in Central Library and, together we can celebrate local creativity and business successes.”
Business & IP Centres have unparalleled reach and engagement with diverse audiences. They support a high percentage of women and black, Asian and minority ethnic entrepreneurs to start up and grow their businesses, when compared with other business support providers. BIPC GM is able to report that 36% of customers that use its resources are from BAME communities.
Tickets for The Black Creative Soiree can be found at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-creative-soiree-tickets-427987892307
