At the Junior School we are exploring how we might include our students in the EDI Committee. Our students were challenged and inspired by activities during Black History Month, but we are determined that this important aspect of history is explored throughout the academic year – not just in October.
We were so excited to host designer Mrs Anthony Deyemo at The Abbey Junior School in December!
At the beginning of her visit, she shared her background with us and talked about her culture. This led to what has inspired her and how she started designing and making her own clothes.
At a very early age, she started drawing sketches but realised that she couldn’t find any dresses that she would like to wear… so she started making her own!
We learnt that Mrs Anthony Deyemo attended school to learn how dresses can be made. She is also a Chemistry teacher at Farnborough 6th Form College.
She mention about Ankara pattern design history from Indonesia to Nederland to Africa (Nigeria- Ghana)
The girls were interested to hear how she uses her creativity to produce her own designs by mixing two different cultures – African print and European cutting. Her fabric follows a design called Ankara, which of course shares its name with the capital of Turkiye.
She now incorporates different styles by using African print and a modern European design. She has learnt that different colours suit different people, not just those from Africa. She thinks that everybody can wear bold and bright colours.
These are some of the messages that Mrs Anthony Deyemo shared:
“You can achieve anything you want to achieve. But you need to be hard working. If you love it, you can do it!”
“Don’t think you can only do one thing. You can do anything that you want!”
“Everyone has a gift or talent – you need to discover what it is, whether it is music, dancing, drawing, science…”
“Keep nurturing your talents and use them to help others … keep on learning!”
Mrs Anthony Deyemo finished her message by reading a poem from the legendary writer Maya Angelou
Phenomenal Woman
Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
