Obakki 'Walk for Water' brings top South Sudanese models to Vancouver
Former refugee Mari Agory say it's 'emotional' participating in charity fashion show
A West Vancouver fashion designer has brought together some of the world's top South Sudanese models for a fashion fundraiser on Tuesday that will benefit the civil war-ravaged country.
Model Mari Agory was only 10-years-old when she fled South Sudan for the United States as a refugee with her mother and three of seven siblings.
She says she doesn't remember the fighting but hasn't forgotten the tension and hostility she experienced.
"Our parents would tell us to stay away from the people we fear the most," said Agory, recalling the factions that led to the decades-long civil war in Sudan. "It was just school, and then home."
It was tough times for Agory who said despite her mother's best efforts, on some days she and her siblings went without a meal.
Today, she lives thousands of miles away in New York City where she's one of the world's top models.
When she had the chance to put her name behind a fundraiser for her birth country, she jumped at the chance.
"We escaped a country and left many people back home, along with family, that are in situations that my family was once in," said Agory, getting emotional.
"I feel Treana has done what many people have been unable to do with her resilience and determination to provide for not only my home country, but for the continent of Africa."
Treana, is West Vancouver designer and philanthropist Treana Peake of Obakki.
She has brought Agory and more than half a dozen of her South Sudanese colleagues together for a one-night fundraiser aimed at providing funds to help drill water wells in South Sudan.
"When I'm in New York City, the South Sudanese girls are my friends and instead of talking about fashion, we're really talking about how we can create more change for their country," said Peake, who after more than 40 visits calls Africa her second home.
Modelling stars Ajak Deng, Grace Bol and Achok Majak are among those in Vancouver who will be walking for the cause.
Aside from giving 100 per cent of event proceeds to her charity, the Obakki show at Holt Renfrew will buck several trends.
More than half the models on the runway will come from diverse racial backgrounds — addressing a criticism that has increasingly plagued the fashion industry and popular media.
All 14 models will be paid equally regardless of whether they're a part-time model from Vancouver or big names like Calgary's Heather Marks, considered one of Canada's biggest exports in the fashion world.
"Lots of them said I don't want to be paid but I said, I'm just paying you a very small flat rate," said Peake. "I just wanted to keep it even for everyone."
Peake says since 2009, her charity, the Obakki Foundation, has built over 850 clean water wells in high-conflict zones.
With files from Rafferty Baker
