In an apartment full of fabrics and boxes, Bora Adesian prepares for her runway show at African Fashion Week.
The 26-year-old fashion designer's new collection is inspired by her model's personal story of wanting to be free and authentic.
"This is her story. She doesn't need to come to me and listen to her," she says. "It's a true story in itself."
It's important for Adesian to tell the story of wanting to be who she is. That's how she came to Canada eight years ago. In 2016, she left Nigeria as a rainbow refugee who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community. In her hometown of Nigeria, she was not accepted as she is.
She "wasn't safe at home. Going to jail is because you are who you are," the 26-year-old says.
Since she came to Canada, she has become a fashion designer. I hope her designs help show people how comfortable they are in their own skin.
CBC Toronto caught up with her Adesiyan to preview her latest collection. For more stories about the Black Canadian experience, from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community, see Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read other stories here.
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