Plumbridge Based Fashion Designer Madge to Showcase Collection at One World Festival

This weekend’s One World Festival, which will take place in and around Derry’s Guildhall, will include a fashion collection that was created and manufactured in Tyrone but was inspired by the brilliant colors of Africa.
Madge Kelly was raised in Nairobi, Kenya, but since 2018, she and her husband have made Ligford, which is near Plumbridge, their home.

During the 2020 lockdown limitations, she fell in love with sewing and has since created a collection that includes tote bags, waist jackets, circle skirts, scrunchies, and aprons.
She continues, “I learned the art of sewing when I lost my cherished mother during the 2020 lockdown. “I trained myself to sew as a coping mechanism for my sadness, and I started producing masks for my loved ones.

I eventually began producing headbands, tote bags, and scrunchies in my home studio.
“The vibrant colors of African patterns and the way they highlight the energy of the continent and the diversity of its inhabitants inspired me.

“I wanted to honor cultural diversity through my handmade designs,” the designer said.
Madge gave her collection the Swahili name RAFIKI, which translates to “friend,” and at first began to share her possessions with family and friends.

She now feels confident enough to present her work to a larger audience thanks to their favorable response.
This weekend, I will display some of the ideas I have been working on at the Guildhall, she added. “My motivation is to introduce and raise awareness of the African spirit in our community by encouraging them to wear clothing with African motifs.

In order to foster a spirit of inclusiveness and diversity, I hope that by sharing my collection, people will fall in love with the colors and appreciate African culture. Future plans include training in fashion design and learning about the industry. My ultimate objective is to present my African print creations on the catwalks of Paris and London during Fashion Week.

Derry City and Strabane District Council will host the North West Multicultural Festival – One World, which will begin at noon on Saturday, September 23, and will take place in and around the Guildhall. It will highlight the rich tapestry of international cultures that are present in the area.

The comprehensive program is a colorful celebration of worldwide music, song, dance, and cuisine and includes performances, workshops, arts and crafts, storytelling, enlightening exhibitions, and engaging dialogues.
A performance space will be created in Guildhall Square along with food stalls and arts and crafts including Beijing Mask Making and Thai Fan Making.

The space will feature dance and music performances from a wide range of genres including Hip Hop, Indian, and Ghana from midday until 4.30 pm.
Inside the Guildhall, the Main Hall will feature the World of Workshops initiative where people can try India Saree tying, Polish and Latvian crafts, and Chinese Dragon making.

The Whittaker Suite will have dance performances from Africa, India, and Asia while the Guildhall foyer will feature a variety of exhibitions of traditional clothing from throughout the world.
The Main Hall will host a Mukesh Chugh picture show.
The lovely Obon Fest lanterns and an exhibition of Indian culture will be on show next door in Harbour House, and visitors can stop by a variety of discussion events regarding the experiences that individuals from all over the world have had when relocating to the city and region.

Visit www.derrystrabane.com/oneworldfestival to obtain the complete One World Festival schedule.
The Good Relations Program of the Council has provided funding for this festival.

Content courtesy of Derry Strabane & NFH