The Dress: Mayann Francis and Gary Markle in conversation

Mayann Francis’ time as Lieutenant Governor was the stuff of history, as the first African Nova Scotian to hold the role. “When I was offered to be the Lieutenant Governor, that, I knew, was going to be a life-changing experience. And then I had to start thinking about the role—not just the ceremonial, and not just the constitutional—but the total role, including the dress. The dress was something that was very important to me because it identifies the role in many respects,” Francis explains. To get that perfect dress, she worked with Lebanese-Canadian designer Salwa Majaess, Halifax’s best-kept secret in the bespoke tailoring world. Catch Francis and Markle, a fashion instructor at NSCAD, discuss the exhibit and it’s cultural value.