The Sunday News
Let’s Get Stylish
A FEW days ago I was told that a couple of Zimbabwean designers would be taking part in the second edition of the annual African Fashion Week Toronto in Canada.
This is a great achievement for our local designers and good news for the Zimbabwean fashion industry, as the country continues to make great strides in attaining recognition in the industry, both locally and internationally.
Anyway, good as it may sound, I have one question, what are our designers doing to promote African couture, in the sense of African attire?
I mean I haven’t come across any designer . . . well maybe one or two that proudly promote African styles.
I do appreciate that our designers are fighting to be in the mainstream fashion industry but I do believe that in order to do so, they have to start at home. You cannot promote ideas and concepts across the seas when they are not appreciated at home.
If you do follow fashion TV channels and magazines, you will find that countries, particularly West African countries, do adorn couture that they sell to other countries.
I guess it’s because they are proud of themselves and want to have their own identity.
Take Nigeria and Ghana for instance, the few nationals, working or investing in Zimbabwe, occasionally dress in their African attire, something that identifies their culture and tradition, to be precise their countries.
The trends don’t necessarily have to be old fashioned but can be turned into contemporary styles, fused with something that defines and identifies with Africa.
For many years now Zimbabwe has been without a national dress and it is utterly humiliating to see some of our girls, national ambassadors (Miss Zims) having to wear costumes usually worn by local cultural dance groups that travel abroad. It is high time our local designers come up with a national dress that is marketable both locally and internationally.
We are proud Zimbabweans and should have a dress to show it.
Anyway, I understand there are 21 designers from around the world taking part in the fashion event, which will play host to other big names such as the French clothing label – Mike Sylla and Botswana’s Black Trash Clothing.
The event has been slated for 15 August this year and will run until 18 August. I haven’t got the names of local designers taking part in the event but I will inform you once I receive confirmation from the responsible parties.
I don’t know whether our Zimbabwean designers have ever heard about Ankara styles, if not I suggest they make efforts to teach themselves about it.
Basically Ankara styles are vibrant patterns of very rich colourful designs.
They are mostly made of 100 percent cotton or cotton poly material. Originally the wax resist dyed fabrics were exported to the Ghana and spread over West Africa into Central Africa and were largely produced in Nigeria.
They became extremely popular over time and were initially worn as everyday casual outfits customised to suit the designs of the person wearing it.
Nowadays they are primarily made in Ghana and have a strong cultural, social and economic importance.
Zimbabweans too can make designs out of these materials.
Nonetheless I do wish our designers representing the nation in Canada the best of luck, but do wish they could make efforts to notify fashion bloggers and writers of such developments so as to try and promote them and develop hype before they attend such events.
Feedback:
I enjoyed the article about smartly dressed men. – 0775 900 920
Thank you very much big brother. I was reading your article on “A gentlemen’s guide.” I now have a right choice, as a young lady. Love formal wear and I guess I have a right choice on who to pick when it comes to dressing. – 0771 039 068
Matika I surrender, your articles are so nice, I really appreciate them. Keep that standard up. – Pamela in Gwanda
Hi I am a big fan of your articles; let’s get stylish, as for me I thank you very much because I know how to dress appropriately. You are a star. -0736 985 145
I loved what was said about Lovemore Ndebele though I don’t know him but he looked very smart. Guys who wear formal are usually smart, presentable and easy to respect all the time. – 0735 877 403
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