The Sunday News
DURING this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, I happened to bump into one of the city’s distinguished, stylish and profound fashion designers — Annie G.
I hadn’t seen nor spoken to her for a while and our chat, even though brief, was interesting.
As friends we spoke of family and life then business. I asked her what she was exhibiting at the fair, to which she answered: “No, I am trying to find partners in the corporate sector that will help develop this industry.”
Annie G is the founder of Annie G Couture and is a Bulawayo girl who is noted as one of the leaders in the fashion industry. She is also the woman behind the “plus size” couture.
Surprised by her novelty, I just had to write about the upcoming development, which if successful will yield great results that will undoubtedly see the fashion industry in Bulawayo develop.
There are a lot of designers in the city, many of which I have interviewed and profiled.
These designers are unique and have different ideas that can assist in the development of the local fashion industry, but I must be honest, some of them are slackers.
I don’t mean to disregard but we really ought to call a spade a spade.
Some I have spoken to really don’t care. Even though they have so many ideas, they don’t make efforts to develop the industry but instead want to fatten their pockets.
Anyway, they say we should always have faith and I have faith in the industry.
And with people such as Annie G, seeking to improve the industry, I among many other fashion enthusiasts will keep the faith.
Annie G, whose real name is Annie Gonyora, said she wasn’t necessarily limiting herself to the local corporates but international companies as well, as she strongly feels that she, among many other local designers, has the capability of breaking out into the international scene.
We already have quite a number of fashion designers across the world making it big, with some notably being top fashion designers for popular celebrities.
It is such a drive that Annie G holds that can steer the development of the fashion industry.
“I can’t keep sitting and wishing to see some sort of development in the industry. We are the ones driving it and should be able to work towards achieving what we want it to be. Seeking corporate partnership is just the beginning and hopefully they will respond,” she said.
For those that are not aware, fashion or rather the textile industry used to be one of Zimbabwe’s major contributors to the economy.
Zimbabwe once boasted of a booming textile industry and I feel it is still capable of being at the top.
We have so many designers in the country and I think there should be some policy that specifically targets the development of this industry.
I think designers should engage the Government so that funds in the form of grants will be availed that will assist them in the revival of the fashion/textile industry. Still on the issue of the corporate sector partnering with the fashion industry, I read some time ago that one of the world’s leading logistics providers — DHL, along with IMG Fashion, last year launched a new programme — DHL Exported, to support the fashion industry worldwide.
This programme was launched to help designers who are already established in their local market and are gaining momentum internationally to further their global footprint via the world’s most powerful fashion week platforms.
Designers from around the world will submit an application package and select a foreign event of their choice: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week or Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo.
A committee of regional experts in each of these markets will review applicants and decide which designer demonstrates the most promise to benefit from exhibiting their collections at the event.
DHL will sponsor a chosen designer for two consecutive seasons at each of the four Fashion Weeks.
Designers will receive a guaranteed spot on the schedule along with a funded and produced runway show.
DHL will also underwrite all logistic costs of producing the collection (i.e. international shipping and exporting of hard goods) as well as exporting the collection to New York, London, Milan or Tokyo for the designers’ runway debut.
IMG Fashion opened up the application process last year and those designers interested and have the capability and quality to be part of this programme can check out the site: www.DHLExported.com
This has been a running programme and I believe we have local designers that can give international designers a run for their money.
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]
