adminProblem Masau Arts Correspondent
The inaugural Diamond Scissors Fashion Awards that were scheduled for today have been postponed to December 5. The awards will still be held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The debut awards will focus on fashion, art and culture celebrating the excellence in the fashions and cultural industries’ journey since independence.
The awards will honour extraordinary design talents and business successes as well as celebrate outstanding contributions, achievements made by design entrepreneurs, artists, individuals, institutions, agencies, corporate firms and other cultural organisations in promotion of Zimbabwean fashion industry and cultural industries sector.
Diamond Scissors Fashion Awards organiser Victor Nyajeka said for long Zimbabwe has been neglecting its fashion pioneers.
“Fashion is a generic term and should be best understood from one’s cultural personality background.
“Through the Diamond Scissors Fashion Awards, a platform to encourage, recognise and reward local designer talent and fashion business successes has been created by Investing in the local fashion, cultural tourism, art and leisure industries creating sustainable economies through building of a rich resource base and capacity utilisation through viable strategic partnerships,” he said.
He added: “The Diamond Scissors Fashion Awards embrace and recognise the fashion, cultural industries economic potential joining the global mainstream fashion communities which have harnessed and invested in the significant economic contribution of the fashion and cultural industries to the global economy.
“This initiative will contribute to the harmonisation and awareness and development of fashion, Cultural Tourism and Art trends within the country. The awards will foster strategic focus on strengthening the pillars of the fashion society establishing and setting industry standards for the successful promotion, development and revival of the local fashion industry.”
Kiki Divaris, who is Zimbabwe’s foremost pageant organiser, and the Zimbabwean textile giants of the 1980s and 90s such as David Whitehead will also be up for accolades.
The awards will reflect on the Zimbabwe fashion journey and its influence on the sub-sectors of our society and culture.
Online Reporter