Kwanzaa Boutique This Saturday
New event spotlights Milwaukee entrepreneurs & handmade goods.
Whether you’ve been considering celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season for the first time or have been observing it for years, the First Annual Kwanzaa Holiday Boutique from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday is a great place to get ready and find handcrafted items to decorate your home or give to friends and family.
The family-friendly event, at St. Ann Center’s Bucyrus Campus, 2450 W. North Ave., will feature items from more than 16 local entrepreneurs, ranging from spiritual items to unique African and Afro-centric fashions, jewelry and accessories to all-natural soaps and lotions. It will also include an educational display, for those who are looking to learn about Kwanzaa or share it with their children; St. Ann Center’s café will be open for snacks.
Kwanzaa, introduced to the United States in 1966, celebrates African heritage, unity, and culture – it begins Dec. 26 and continues through Jan. 1, with gift-giving and a feast. Established as a response to the commercialism of Christmas, it was promoted as a ritual for African-Americans to welcome the first harvests to the home. (The word “kwanza” means “first.”) As with Hanukkah, candles are lighted in a special holder — each of the seven candles on the Kwanzaa kinara celebrates one of the principles: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Kwanzaa’s colors are those of African liberation movements: red, black and green.
“We are thrilled to shine a light on the customs and traditions of this special time while supporting businesses from the neighborhood,” said Gloria Miller, St. Ann Center’s Special Events Director.
Vendors include: The Changing Faces (clothing, purses, jewelry, shoes): Lil Kings and Queens Boutique (children’s clothing); African Alive LLC0 (African attire for women and men); Barbara Ward (religious lap scarves); Pretty by Maya Joy (jewelry); Sr. Edna’s Jewelry Creations; Gershia Coggs’ Spiritually Inspired (designer jackets, matching headwraps and jewelry); Baskets of Blessing faith bowls and African cloth boxes; Tre Jacks Custom Designs and Alterations; Dee’s Jewels & Novelties; Phyl’s Jazzy Designs; Fashions by Purple Pearlz Treasures; Aloekui Handmade Soap; No Fingerprints Clothing; Gospel Intercession African garments; Growing Wildflowers jewelry; and Sand Dia Designs clothing and purses.
To learn more about the Kwanzaa Holiday Boutique, contact Gloria Miller at (414) 210-2428 or gmiller@stanncenter.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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