McKeesport resident to showcase her designs at African Cultural Exchange International Festival

Energy El is making a name for herself as a stylist and designer of African clothing.

By COLETTE FUNCHES
McKeesport Community Newsroom

What is the fashionably dressed woman wearing these days? Well, she might be dressed in one of the creations by Energy El.

A resident of McKeesport, Energy El is a seamstress, stylist and designer of African clothing. She will display her designs at the African Cultural Exchange International Festival (AFCEI) on Saturday.

“At age 4 I was the only one in my family that could sew. I had a real sincere feeling about making my own clothes. I didn’t want to look like anyone else,” said El, who was wearing a brightly colored jacket of aqua, yellow, purple, black and orange she designed herself.

During a recent interview with the McKeesport Community Newsroom, El dashed around the meeting table. Holding a tape measure, she carefully measured the head, upper and middle body, and arm and leg lengths of her models. She uses both male and female models .

Her fashions will be celebrated during the 33rd anniversary of the AFCEI, from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at The Kingsley Association Community Center, 6435 Frankstown Ave., in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood.

The event is being sponsored by the Nigerian Charity Organization Inc., under the direction of Pastor Mark Okere. There will be traditional dancing, music, vendors and a jazz band to promote African arts, food and celebrate cultural diversity.

“Pastor Mark saw me standing at the vending table at the University of Pittsburgh ‘Celebrate Africa’ Fashion Show in September, and he asked if I would consider doing a fashion show for his African theme festival,” said El.

She said yes. “I want to display my skill set. I sew, I design, I style. It’s something I learned to do. I picked up on it at age 12. I altered things to make sure that it did not look like other people’s stuff. When you buy clothes off the rack, you run the risk of seeing what you own on somebody else. That is a hurting feeling, especially when you are going to something special,” said El.

El does not use patterns. “I make alterations and see what it’s going to do for me. I make high quality African designs such as skirts, trousers, vests, head dress, jumpsuits and dresses. I make simplistic pieces such as ‘tye-knoting’, which is tying fabric onto the body to make a shirt. The outfits are to be worn with the right African styled accessories. I don’t need a stylist to say what piece looks right with another piece of clothing,” El said.

Tina Witherspoon, one of El’s models, admires the clothing.

“I think the clothing is beautiful,” Witherspoon said. “I love the colors and the regal headdress.”

El oversees every detail of her work. She designs and sews the outfits, practices the ‘runway’ walk with her models and does the model’s makeup featuring tribal markings.

El and her models will showcase 50 designs for the show. She also plans to have four women and their children appear as models in the show.

“Anytime you put clothes together that emphasize your culture — you feel empowered,” said veteran model Dyonna Hall .

El has set a goal to participate in Pittsburgh Fashion Week 2026.

“I try to inspire others to be the best that they can be,” she said.

For more information about the African Cultural Exchange International Festival, call 412-537-0958 Admission is free.

Colette Funches is a resident of McKeesport and is currently studying journalism at Community College of Allegheny County. She is a member of Tube City Writers, a program of the McKeesport Community Newsroom.