The Sunday News
ON 18 April 1980, Zimbabwe was liberated from the shackles of British colonialism.
This meant that the country became a free nation . . . Apart from all what was going on, in the battlefield and political offices; rarely did people have time to consider fashion.
Of course there were fashionistas then but this was at the breaking point and most essential time for Zimbabwe.
I have often asked myself what role fashion had in the liberation struggle. Many a time we are told of the role and significance music and other disciplines had in attaining independence but rarely fashion.
A while ago I spoke to one amazing lady, Ericah Gwetai about fashion before and after independence.
I am assuming that most of us were not born by then and don’t know what it meant to walk into a white owned shop and purchase clothes.
Gwetai in her musings said to me: “This was one of the toughest moments. Zimbabwe has indeed come a long way. The battles, racism, you name it . . . I remember how we — black people were segregated to a section of the CBD. The groceries and clothes we bought were different from the white people.
Shopping at established and well stocked shops such as Edgars (it was known as Sales House back then) was a fantasy, we all experienced! We were not allowed in the shops, if ever you wanted to buy clothes from these shops you would stand, sometimes for hours glaring at the item from outside the shop until a salesperson spotted you and came outside.
“You wouldn’t even be given the chance to try the clothes or shoes for size. Once the money was in the counter, whether or not the item you bought fitted you that was it. You couldn’t return it,” she said.
Gwetai added that in some cases if you couldn’t fit into whatever clothing item you would have purchased the white store owners would not return it to the shop but take it to another shop where it would be sold for a cheaper price because it would have been worn by a black person.
It really must have been tough during those days, seeing as how much privileged we are to be able to walk into any store and purchase whatever clothing item we desire.
I was also made to understand that there was certain type of clothes black people were not allowed to wear, such as suits, unless you had been instructed by a white person.
How horrific it was. Today we are able to wear whatever we like and desire with no one sanctioning us.
When Zimbabwe gained its independence, the country’s first Prime Minister and President Mugabe influenced a style, which I must say will forever be imprinted in my mind and many. He wore a stylish safari suit, which has lately been growing popular with men.
In his stylish suit he represented one end of the Zimbabwean fashion spectrum.
The president typified the fashionable post-independence Zimbabwean man with his bold blend of suits. People used to wear belly bottoms and tight fitting shirts, which were also very fashionable at the time. Most of our musicians such Tuku did much to promote indigenous textiles.
Of course even though we hardly wore our own traditional fashion, Western fashion was inspired by outsiders; for example, Audrey Hepburn in the movie Roman holiday, popularissed pedal pushers.
In the 1980s, so-called ethnic fashion came to prominence as politics accompanied a parallel nostalgia for tradition.
The excitement, diversity, and growth of Zimbabwean fashion in the first 25 years of independence matched the national mood.
In the mid-90s the fashion scene changed; foreign brands appeared and satellite TV introduced Western programmes and advertising.
Ethnic dress fell out of fashion, but is somewhat making its way back. African styles are increasingly inspiring contemporary couture across the continent and beyond.
Feedback:
Hie Peter. I would support your comment about us girls to wear leggings with skirts, because without skirts it’s disgusting. — 0713627620
Some of these ladies are Christians, I just wonder if they see it fit to welcome well-dressed Jesus in their contradicting image and disgusting state of attire. — Anonymous.
I wish all men were like you, to be brave enough to expose the iniquity that has engulfed our women within the society and the world at large and worse creeping even in rural primary schools contaminating and defiling little minds with this attire. —Anonymous.
Till next week let’s keep styling. For feedback please sms or whatsapp ONLY 0772 337 433. You can also link up with me via e mail — [email protected]
