Meet the Leader: Toni Stacey-Blake – Booshie Bagz | Urban Fashion Social Enterprise

Controller — Tue, 10 May 2011 09:27:15 +0000

Urban Fashion Chick

Raunchy, passionate, fiery and feisty. These words all come to mind when trying to describe a certain Miss Toni Stacey-Blacke, the self proclaimed Urban Fashion Chick. This is especially true if you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the South East London bred entrepreneur in person, and only have her professionally shot model portfolio photos to go by.

And whilst all these word may accurately describe Toni, there is far more to her character than than her bossy exterior might suggest. You see as mentioned earlier, in addition to modelling, Toni is an entrepreneur. Designing and manufacturing her own line of luxury bespoke urban hand bags; Booshie Bagz.

Investing in our future

-every kid has a talent. It’s down to us as adults to actually get it out of them

And that’s not all. Toni isnt just any ordinary entrepreneur. Her business is run as a social enterprise, which means that the profits of the business are ploughed into community projects, with Toni focusing her efforts on helping young people from inner city communities to foster higher aspirations for their future career prospects through the creative arts of fashion and design.

You can see it in her eyes when she speaks of her community projects that she is fiercely passionate about her youth work, and that she truly believes that by giving today’s youth positive avenues to channel their energies, that they can be empowered to pull themselves out of the downward spiral of gun and knife culture that their social group now find themselves in.

Because if they’ve got something to do, they won’t be going out and killing each other, you understand me?

Inspirational leader

So not only is she raunchy and feisty, but Toni also displays the admirable attributes of being community-minded, and possessing tenacity along with a never say die attitude in the face of the adversity posed by having limited funding.

For these aspirational qualities we are proud to present: Toni Stacey-Blake, Urban Fashion Chick, as the first to be featured in our series of interviews titled Meet The Leader’s. Our attempt to shine light on the unsung leaders of our local communities who strive to improve society through enriching the lives of our youths.

WIARD FM:: Tell us about Booshie Bagz
Toni:: Booshie Bagz is a social enterprise but we don’t get any government funding. So you know.. We’ve been to City Hall, I’ve spoken to government bodies, but yano.. They just don’t give the funding because of the government deficit.; They think it’s a brilliant idea.

I’ve worked with Walworth Academy, now Christ the King 6th Form College, (you know) the Young Offenders Institute as well. You know they love the project, they love what I promote, but can’t necessarily pay for it so I do a lot of my work for free. All of the charity work that I do, like for Passion Passions, Stop the Violence, Mothers Against Guns, and people against guns and knives, and all of those kinds of organisations. You know we do that for free, like photo-shoots (and things like that), we promote anti-violence.

We believe that if we can get the kids.. It sounds You know, every kid has a talent. It’s down to us as adults to actually get it out of them. You understand me? If we can take it from them… Because if they’ve got something to do, they won’t be going out and killing each other, you understand me?
WIARD FM:: You’ve got to keep them occupied?
Toni:: Yea absolutely! You know the government bodies they don’t really care do they about us at the end of the day?; And you know kids are brilliant, it’s just up to us to get it out of them. And I think if you inspire them to (reach) their highest potentials through creativity is the one.

You know they contribute (participate) and we need more people from the private sector, make them entrepreneurs, you’ve seen their spirit, you’ve seen what they’re capable of..
WIARD FM:: I know there’s a lot of talent out there and a lot of energy but no-where to put it.
Toni:: Yea where are they putting it!? Yano creativity in the UK is not really recognised, it’s kind of like a game, or you know, a hobby. (But) It’s not! You can make money out of creativity!

You’ve got all of the taggers. Instead of tagging their street corners up or putting their tag artwork up across an area, they can make that tag into a flag and make stuff out of it and you know, do something really really fantastic. Why not?
WIARD FM:: So tell us about the business side and what you do in terms of fashion.
Toni:: I make bags. Leather bags, everything is handmade, and canvas, as well. We use heavy duty canvas. Because we believe that they should last a lifetime. You know when you go out and buy manufactured crap (that) it doesn’t last a lifetime yano but where something is handmade..? The thing with us.. Look everything, this is hand-sprayed (shows us a bag) by street artists yano this stuff is going to last forever. It’s not in fashion so it doesn’t go out of fashion. Yano it’s quality and it’s at half the high street prices.; You know couture at half retail prices. And you know it’s always fresh because the kids put in all these ideas and their bright colours. And you know, they are fashion aren’t they kids?

It doesn’t go in fashion with them and it doesn’t go out of fashion with them. This just is fashion, do you understand me?

(This is) individuality. We believe that each piece that is made for us as human beings is individual. Your not going to see another one like it, even if you begged me to make another one I wouldn’t do it because it ceases to be unique, and I think that’s what we need to do (be?) as humans as well.
WIARD FM:: Try to find a niche?
Toni:: Absolutely! We’re so niche we’re beyond niche (laughs).. We’re more niche than the normal niche is!
WIARD FM:: (We take a look at the goods one the stands..) And one last question, where do you make these?
Toni:: At my house. We make them in my conservatory that’s been converted to a studio! That’s where I make them. Yea.. But it works! Handy craft.
WIARD FM:: Home made couture?!
Toni:: Yea! [speaks in posh accent] Hand crafted from my home (laughs).

Find out more about Booshie Bagz and Toni using the following lnks:

Photography: Nathan Thompson; Antonio Nodar; Darren Shakespeare
Hand-drawn Sketch Artwork: Onye Asouka

Meet the Music: Kelli-Leigh – Rock n Roll/Funk n Soul

Controller — Tue, 10 May 2011 09:00:24 +0000

We had a chance to catch up with Kelli-Leigh back-stage before her stage-show at the the Water Rats Theatre in St Pancras and just before she joined the UK singer Adele on tour. We took the opportunity to gain insight into her musical tastes and what she had planned for 2011.

Kelli-Leigh is a singer/song-writer with a passion for Rock n Roll/ Funk n Soul, she is currently working on a new album which will feature collaborations with several UK artists. This may include her girls group associates High On Heels. After seeing her performing live (see below) you’ll definitely want to see and hear more from this Rock n Roll/Funk and Soul starlet!

Interview:

Live Performance: Dictamized

Kelli-Leigh performs her new song Dictamized with the help of the band Vienna.

Photos:

[Show as slideshow]

For more news and information about Kelli-Leigh’s music use the following links:

Speechless EXCLUSIVE Interview in London | New UK R&B girl group

Controller — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:07:46 +0000

We always strive to bring you the very best in up-and-coming talent, and we were lucky enough to catch up with the girls who make up one of the hottest R&B girl groups to come out of both the Midlands, and the UK. We’re proud to present our exclusive full-length interview with Speechless, taken whilst they were in London recently for a photo-shoot and recording sessions.

After watching the interview, and listening to their debut song; Speechless, we’re sure you’ll agree these girls are bubbly, full of character, and have voices to die for, all of which really does make them Speechless. Hopefully 2011 will be that the UK music scene gets to know both the Speechless girls and that Speechless feeling…

Photos

The pictures shown below include some taken with some of Speechless’ new-found fans just after the interview, which was conducted at Temptation dessert shop in North London.

Laura White Full Interview | X-Factor Contestant | Derby Christmas Lights 2009

Controller — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:01:18 +0000

We had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with singer, and former X-Factor contestant Laura White whilst she was in the East Midlands Christmas Lights event at Derby’s Westfield Shopping centre. During the interview she reveals her thoughts on the dreaded Jedward twin act, and her feeling on leaving the competition. She also discusses her motivation behind starting her own record label and the meaning behind her recent song Should Have Known.

The full transcript of the interview will appear shortly.

The interview was taken 14th November 2009 at the Christmas Lights Switch On event Derby’s Westfield shopping centre

WIARD FM » Interviews