ECO Africa brings fashion show for gorillas to Salford University

Fashion, music and poetry entertained fundraisers at a Salford student event in aid of endangered gorillas.

Do it for Culture was an evening run by the university’s Wildlife Society and conservation group ECO Africa to raise money to try to save the remaining 800 Eastern gorillas left in the world.

The event also addressed issues such as racism and broader environmental concerns.

ECO Africa linked up with Manchester African Business Network who donated recycled clothing for the event.

The founder of ECO Africa, Sam Obeghe said: “We recycled the clothing to use in the fashion show, to sell the recycled clothing to raise money for the gorillas in Africa.”

Sam discussed his aspirations for ECO Africa: “We collect problems, we create challenges, create projects and we also collect project tasks from organisations around those areas to solve environmental issues.”

Three different groups of models represented different clothing brands, Triple B, 161 Clothing and DROP 3HREE.

Sam said: “The whole point of ECO is to connect and empower people, to collaborate and solve some of the biggest problems in the world. The movement is inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, to develop the world for sustainability.”

Sam’s organisation, ECO Africa which stands for ‘Environment, Community and Organisation’ gives an opportunity to students to become ambassadors for the university, to create leaders to help big economic issues.

Gorillas are humans’ closest ancestors but are on their way to becoming extinct.

One performer opened the show with a poem which was inspired by social identities such as afros on black women and prejudice against black men. This was followed by a singer who rapped about his perception of university life from an outside point of view.

Triple B’s clothing was modeled by on the catwalk, with the style was inspired by a reflective strip on Skepta’s jacket.

An artist called Kofi read an insightful poem surrounding colourism, explains the unnecessary judgement of skin colour. Rapper Micah performed another song which was followed by the display of 161 clothing brand on the catwalk.

The night was closed with Masumi who designs headwear, for people with alopecia or cancer.

The president of ECO Africa, Sam and the head of the Wildlife Society, Olivia, spoke about how proud they were of the event and how things can only get better if everyone gets involved and fights their own cause.