Rating: NNNNN
WHO: Njambi Bernard, designer, owner of Njambi kiosk at Lawrence Square Mall (700 Lawrence West) njambi_bernard@hotmail.com)
WHEN: Sunday, 8:30 pm
WHERE: Afrofest, Queen’s Park
CLOTHING: “I design all my own clothes and jewellery, but I get other people to actually make them. Everything I’m wearing I sell at my West Indies-inspired kiosk. This straw hat sells for $17, and my crocheted halter is $29.95. I designed this native-inspired bone belt and had it made in Bali by a local artisan. It sells for $35. My long patchwork skirt is on sale now for $69.95. It’s the result of pillaging second-hand stores for old jeans, chopping them up, then stitching them back together. I even made my sandles! They cost $19.95 and are made out of denim as well. My necklace matches my belt – I had it made in Bali, too. It retails for $8. I found my gold nose ring in India. The long gold bindi I’m wearing is also from India. I sell similar ones for $1 for a package of eight. My bracelet costs $9.95.”
HAIR: “I do it myself. My dreads are bleached right now. I dyed my hair a different colour for every year that I had my dreads, but now I’m just letting them go natural.”
MY STYLE: “I do what feels right. I don’t allow anyone else’s opinion to inhibit me.”
INTO: “Hanging out with family and friends. I spend six months of the year out of the country finding inspiration for my designs. Otherwise, I’m at my kiosk coming up with new ideas for stuff to make.”
