Much More than Mas Boots

For custom made leather or vinyl mas boots with matching mas purses and fanny packs, Torontonians know who to go to. Anton Gabriel aka Bootsman, has been designing these quality mas products for many years. However his appreciation for mas has grown with his opening of Mas Camp Central (MCC), a carnival museum; the first of it’s kind in North America.
After a year of designing mas boots, Anton realized he needed a showroom to display his designs, and not just during Caribana season, but year round. He acquired a spot in Scarborough in May of 2008 that is close to many of the mas camps. His wife's many years of playing mas at Trinidad Carnival and Caribana resulted in a huge amount of costumes. So these costumes, along with those of friends and clients who have purchased mas boots, are proudly on display at MCC. Anton is in partnership with all mas people who have encouraged him and contributed to making the showroom such a unique place to visit.

I’ve kept my costumes from the last 9 years, but some have inevitably fallen apart from making their appearance at not only Caribana, but Hamilton Mardi Gras and Barrie’s Caribfest. I display my headpieces in my own colourful Caribana room. So I wondered whether my costumes would be worthy of being put on display. But Anton told me he gladly accepts any and all costumes that he can find, headpiece or not.

Bootsman creations

The over 100 costumes on display date back to 15 years from Trinidad, Toronto & even Grenada. MCC is a registered not for profit organization in Ontario since March 2009.

The museum is a place where visitors can "talk mas," watch Carnival DVD's on a large TV, and look through the many books & magazines on display. Anton says on occasions you can even enjoy some pelau & corn soup as there is seating for 20 people.

Schools in the GTA are invited to make field trips with students in Arts & Culture to experience carnival and MCC will be the location for "show & tell" of everything mas.

Anton at a display at the St. Stephens Secondary School library in Durham during a multicultural celebration in April 2009.

Caribbean Vibrations videotaped two shows at MCC and Callaloo chose MCC as their costumes photo shoot location this year.

To get great taste of carnival before you play mas or watch the Caribana parade, be sure to visit this unique place. There are currently 20 empty mannequins waiting to be adorned with beads, feathers & sequins, so consider making your costume a part of Caribana history by donating it to MCC. I certainly identify with Anton's original aim of starting MCC to get people more involved in Caribana.

Mas Camp Central location is 130 Dynamic Drive, Unit 13, Scarborough. (One block west of Markham Road & McNichol.) Tel: 416-524-1782.http://www.mascampcentral.com/

~* Mas Camp Central~*

You guys might remember one of our Caribana friends Bootsman (Anton Gabriel). Last year we did a post showcasing his custom made mas boots. Anton has acquired a space in Scarborough (the east end of greater Toronto) that he has named Mas Camp Central.
He's turned this space into a museum, the first of it's kind, in tribute to everything Carnival.
Its quite a sight to see all of these creations beautifully displayed on mannequins. It looks like a labor of love.

After making mas boots for just over a year, Anton realized he needed a showroom to display his designs not just at Caribana time, but all year. In January of this year he found a location in Scarborough that was within a short driving distance to most of the mas camps that was just right for this. Like most dedicated mas players, his wife had accumulated many years of costumes from Trinidad Carnival & Caribana. He utilized the showroom to display all these costumes on mannequins, and was quickly offered other costumes from friends & clients who purchased boots.

He now has eighty costumes on display & his a goal is to have one hundred by the end of August 2008.

People who donate costumes get the opportunity to dress the mannequins themselves, and the emotional response seems to be quite an experience, he says. So for all of you who don't keep your costume, now you know what you can do with it! It can become a part of Caribana history! Anton looks forward to more costume donations. Karabana knows she'll be bringing in some of hers!
There are costumes from over 15 years ago from Trinidad, Toronto & even Grenada. On display are costumes from Tribe, Island People, Trini Revellers, Harts, Poison and many from Saldenah, Carnival Nationz, TCC, and others.

The showroom is much like a museum, Anton says, where visitors can "talk mas" and look at Carnival DVD's on a large TV, and reference the many books & magazines on display. He says on occasions one may even share some pelau & corn soup as there is seating for 20 people.

We played in Cow Mas in 2007

Schools in the GTA will be making field trips with students in Arts & Culture to experience carnival & Mas Camp Central will be the location for "Show & Tell" of everything mas. Anton is in partnership with all mas people who encouraged him & contributed to making the showroom a unique place to visit.

I think it's worth a visit just to check out the costumes, but you can also check out his custom made leather or vinyl boots with matching fanny packs.
Mas Camp Central is located at 130 Dynamic Drive (perfect name for this!!), Unit 13 in Scarborough. One block west of Markham Road & McNichol. Tel: 416-524-1782. www.mascampcentral.com
I'm very excited for Bootsman and Caribana as a whole that this museum is finally here, and I know Anton your goal will be reached - even surpassed!