London College of Fashion, UAL is to host a free ‘May Day Rave’ evening event to celebrate the start of summer, and folk costume in Britain.
Scheduled to take place at LCF’s new home at East Bank in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Thursday, May 2nd from 6-9pm, the inclusive soiree forms part of the public cultural programme surrounding LCF’s major new exhibition created in collaboration with the Museum of British Folklore; Making More Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The After Dark late night event will see the LCF campus transformed into a festival where “folklore meets fierce beats” through musicians, students, designers, creatives and performers joining forces to explore and reimagine the customs, costumes and rituals associated with national and international celebrations of May Day.
As a response to LCF’s Making More Mischief exhibition, attendees are encouraged to wear folk inspired garments to reflect their own traditions and cultures and celebrate the vibrant customs and rituals that shape our individual identities.
Described as being a “contemporary reimagining” of May Day celebrations, the rave will pay homage to the tradition of international Labour Day parades, and dance within Somali culture featuring collaborations with Numbi Arts, an east London organisation providing a platform for collaborative cross-cultural exchange for artists drawing from the experience of Somali communities around the world.
Participatory performances will culminate in a spectacular procession with the crowning of Queen Arewelo; a figure in Somalian heritage and folklore who reflects the essence of resilience in the face of adversity.
