FLM On the Scene
HESHIMA KENYA
Raises Over $140,000
in Fashion Show
Photos by Kasia Jarosz
On Thursday, April 27th, Heshima Kenya, a Chicago non-profit dedicated to serving refugee girls, celebrated fashion and philanthropy at their signature event, The 5th Annual Heshima Kenya Fashion Challenge. At the Chicago Cultural Center, over 250 guests attended a one-of-a-kind runway show featuring looks from fourteen Chicago designers who were tasked to create a unique runway design in just two weeks by incorporating scarves from the Maisha Collective, Heshima Kenya’s social enterprise that fosters leadership and business skills for refugee girls through the design and production of hand-dyed fabrics.
Designer Maria Pinto, television personality D.C. Crenshaw, and fashion blogger, Julia Daoud voted on the winning look. Eugene Frimpong’s daring design stole the show. Entertainment was provided by Ayodele Drum & Dance and food was catered by Hogsalt Hospitality, of Au Cheval and Doughnut Vault restaurants. ABC news personality Tanja Babich and Jerome McDonnell of WBEZ Worldview emceed the event.
The 5th Annual Fashion Challenge raised over $140,000 to fund a leadership program for The Maisha Collective, newly named the Alumni Leadership Incubator. This program will provide the next level of leadership development for refugee artisans, as well as elevate their entrepreneurial talents. Most important, the program will create sustainable, long-term solutions for young refugee women who face tremendous odds from throughout East Africa.