The Sunday News
IT’S rather baffling how some of the so-called socialites and key stakeholders of Bulawayo’s fashion industry are so secretive about certain projects and any developments taking place. Over the past few months there has been a lot of activity taking place in the industry, with several fashion shows and other programmes, which are viewed as “master blueprints” of the development of the industry.
Somehow organisers of these fashion events, have “forgotten” to inform the media, so as to market these shows to the world, in an effort to raise awareness and build the industry.
Also in that light some of these “organisers” have also chosen to segregate a whole lot of people, who, I think are fundamental in the development of the industry.
Presently there is something called the Matabeleland Fashion Week, which is scheduled to be held a month or two from now.
I am told it is to be held at the Heath Streak Academy, as I mentioned last week. Somehow this event has been kept under wraps, as there hasn’t been much information divulged about it, besides the occasional Facebook picture.
Who really is running this event? To give it such a prestigious name — Matabeleland Fashion Week — but keep everything concerning the event a secret. What is it about and who is taking part in this event?
How is Matabeleland benefiting from this event or is it just a catch phrase that is being used to lure people?
Somehow I am being led to believe that the people we see running around in the industry are mere string-puppets being used by individuals, clad in dark robes, hiding behind glass doors. Well I have news for you, we see you and it is just a matter of time until you come crushing down from those cheap thrones, once you have been exposed.
Anyway those are just musings from the newsroom. It’s funny how shoddy this industry is turning out to be, I thought it had taken the right step towards development, after the formation of fashion designer organisations, such as the Bulawayo Board of Designers.
It is only after those organisations and individuals, whom I would describe as leeches and would rather not mention names, somehow latched themselves on to this lucrative project.
And since then, the industry has taken a down turn for the worst and seems to be sailing back to where it was — obscurity.
After the formation of the Bulawayo Board of Designers, which encompassed almost all well-known designers in Bulawayo, the industry was tranquil and harmonious.
However, once certain organisations and individuals saw how advantageous this was, they somehow latched themselves onto the board and seem to be wreaking havoc.
Some of my designer friends, lately, have been complaining of how the industry has been set back, after some of these people managed to infiltrate the organisations.
I would have reckoned that by them “latching” on to the board, they would somehow foster for development, but, alas no.
I remember having a chat with some designers last year, advising them to form a board, which would manage the businesses and see to the development of the industry. The board was then developed and fashioned around uplifting local talent and bringing unity among designers.
However, somehow that project, I am told is on a brink of collapse, as some designers from the board are reportedly being “misled” to being managed by some agency, which is said to be bringing about despondency in the fashion industry.
Anyway, I managed talk to one of the industry’s style icons, Gilmore Moyo of Hunnar Management Agency, who said people should learn to support each other if ever they came up with good ideas. He said this in relation to a question I posed to him, comparing Bulawayo to Harare’s fashion industries.
“I think when someone comes up with a great idea they just need to be supported for that idea to reach its fullest potential.
“Hence, I would say people need to be supported and we will not have confusion. Harare people support each other very well,” he said.
Moyo noted that there was a lot of activity taking place in the industry in a “very short space of time,” which is why there was a lack of communication between the media and people hosting fashion events.
“It’s just that everything is happening all at once and there is little time to do proper updates.”
I then asked him about the Toronto Africa Fashion Week, which was held in Canada about a week or so ago, where I am informed that one person attended the event, after having struggled to raise funds.
“We went to the extent of getting to fundraise for one designer to go to Toronto and represent everyone else. Unfortunately we did not raise enough funds to send everyone, the corporate world did not come through as expected.
“We got support from the Mayor of Bulawayo and Bulawayo City Council for that initiative, which is still work in progress towards supporting local designers. The little money raised from the concert, one dollar initiative and corporates, went towards the one designer’s representational logistics and also in building the designers collections. The 120FashionFund is still going on in the form of the three designers going further to represent the city and also celebrating 120 years through participating on other various platforms, such as Durban Fashion Fair, Another Charity event in Cape Town and a few local events,” said Moyo.
Let me end here for this week, I shall continue again next week.
Till next week, let’s keep styling. For feedback please sms or WhatsApp ONLY 0772337433.
