Revival and Renewal

Ubuntu launch in review

There's been a renaissance within the St Andrews fashion show circuit. This semester saw the revival of charity fashion show Ubuntu, which last strutted the runways of Fife in the spring of 2020. The revived Instagram account promises to distinguish itself amongst the frankly prolific St Andrews fashion shows by “provid[ing] a space for the celebration of African and Caribbean culture,” a celebration which waltzed its way into the St Andrews nightlife with their launch party on the evening of 21 November. For £6 admission, guests could spend their night getting to know the upcoming show, the committee, and most notably a generous bar tab at one of St Andrews’ pricier bars. Like other fashion shows, Ubuntu is also fashion with a cause, confirming their partnership with DataKirk, a charity working across Scotland to minimise the attainment gap within minority communities. 

A last-minute venue change asked attendees to redirect from Gidi Grill, another St Andrews newcomer specialising in West African and Caribbean cuisine, to The Physician. Although the initial host may have better encapsulated the committee’s celebration of African and Caribbean culture, the swap for the South Street cocktail lounge could hardly be considered a downgrade. The late change was handled swiftly and seemingly without a hitch. If not for social media announcements, it may have been impossible to guess there were any last-minute changes — a testament to the quick thinking of a dedicated events team.

The choice in venue, with its red accents and dim mood lighting, inspired the night with a sophisticated charm. Ubuntu’s theming subtly pronounced itself throughout the venue via promotional materials and graphics littered amongst the candlelights and cocktail menus. Leaflets providing links to the recently launched Ubuntu Substack encouraged attendees to discover the theme of the upcoming 2026 show: Imbewu. The short Substack article introduces its readers to the significance of Ethnobotanism (the “interdisciplinary study of the relationship between humans and plants”) to the reclamation of African and Caribbean culture and communities. The decorative touches, such as lit-up garlands, twirled around the well-tended bar and foliage props blooming across the room, confirmed their commitment to this theme. 

Contagiously enthusiastic DJ sets from Tachi, Grace, and B3LYP kept a steady population on the dancefloor until the very end of the night. The steady supply of curated Afrobeats, Afro house, and techno mixes was a breath of fresh air from an increasingly stale St Andrews DJ scene. When taking a break from the dancefloor, guests had the opportunity to have their photo taken by one of several photographers. 

As the night drew closer to its conclusion, members of the committee attempted to more formally introduce Ubuntu and its message. However, the noise of the room and lack of awareness from some guests that a speech had, in fact, begun hindered this. After all, there is only so much attention one can realistically expect from a crowd of drunk students without the aid of a microphone. Amidst the unintelligible, the key message was that of community, and it only took a glance around the room to believe it. Impeccably dressed guests exchanged information as they admired each other's outfits and bonded over shared interests.

This sense of community was evident within the committee itself; as I spoke with photographers, hair and makeup artists, and models, they all shared this as their inspiration for the upcoming 2026 show. Ubuntu’s launch party crafted the beginnings of an exciting creative community within St Andrews that embraces the diversity of culture within our town. As I left The Physician that evening, I found myself excited by the renewal of a new era of fashion shows in St Andrews and welcomed by the community built by it.

Photo by Amelia Beattie