BK LUWO Textile Project

In February 2018 the BKLUWO group and the Museum Reminiscence Officer visited Shepherds Bush Market to source fabric for a textile project to recreate a typical outfit that would have been worn for special occasions in the West Indies/Caribbean. The group meet weekly and worked together at their meeting room at East Oxford Community Centre to complete the project. Group member Ermine Rogers kindly shared a photograph of herself as a young woman at home in St Vincent in the 1950s wearing a special occasion outfit.

The BKLUWO group have recreated this outfit using material purchased from Shepherds Bush market which is well known for its West Indian/Caribbean stalls and fabrics. The group had a great day out and enjoyed a delicious meal at the Hot Pot Café in Goldhawk Road.

The finished garment was displayed in the exhibition alongside a more formal outfit which would have been worn to make the journey to Britain in the 1950s.

BKLUWO group

The BKLUWO group was founded in 1991 by Filda Abelkec for refugee women from Northern Uganda to provide support for each other and enjoy creative activities in a sociable and supportive environment. Over the years the group has expanded to include women from all cultures and backgrounds who meet at East Oxford Community Centre to share skills and support one another. The meaning of Ber-Bedo Kelo Lonyo  is “Living together in harmony creates holistic wealth”. Many of the group members were born in the West Indies/Caribbean.