Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
ZIMBABWEAN creatives should prepare for a powerful fusion of fashion, social impact, and creative rebirth as “Kusona: Stitching Futures, Threading Hope” returns for its 2025 edition.
More than just a fashion initiative, Kusona represents a potent movement, meticulously stitching together sustainable livelihoods, poverty reduction, gender equality, and environmental consciousness through the vibrant medium of up-cycled design.
Funded by the Zimbabwe German Society (ZGS) and driven by the dynamic Das Kollective, this year’s programme promises to be its most impactful yet, expanding its reach and deepening its roots in the community of Hopley.
Building decisively on the successful foundations laid in its 2024 debut, Kusona 2025 evolves significantly under the banner “Art Evolved – Bridging Imagination and Innovation.”
While the core mission remains steadfast – empowering young women and young mothers, particularly those facing vulnerabilities like the risk of early marriage, substance abuse, or economic hardship – the programme now integrates a crucial suite of holistic skills. Kusona recognises that true empowerment extends beyond the sewing machine.
“We’re moving beyond teaching just how to create beautiful garments. This year, we’re equipping participants with the tools to thrive in a modern world.
That means photography to capture their creations and tell their personal narratives, digital literacy to navigate learning, marketing, and connection online, financial literacy to build economic independence and business acumen, and vital mental wellness support to foster personal growth and resilience alongside technical training,” said Tinashe Madamombe, the visionary founder of Stitching Futures and Kusona’s driving force, recently honoured among Zimbabwe’s 40 Under 40 Communicators.
This comprehensive approach ensures that the journey from discarded textiles begins not just at the newly established Upcycling Lab, but extends far beyond the final stitch.
Participants will transform forgotten fabrics sourced from the community into stunning wearable art, embodying the project’s core ethos of seeing “waste as wonder,” as championed by mentor Bethel J (The Sustainable Dreamweaver), founder of TotemByBeth.
“It’s about finding purpose and beauty in what others discard, both materially and metaphorically,” Bethel emphasised.
Kusona’s impact is deeply rooted in Hopley, a peri-urban settlement approximately 13.4 km south of Harare’s CBD. Established in 2005 following Operation Murambatsvina as temporary accommodation for displaced residents, Hopley has grown into a densely populated community, home to an estimated 60 000 people as of 2018.
It is here, amidst complex socio-economic challenges, that Kusona finds its purpose, offering tangible pathways to confidence, economic opportunity, and creative expression for its young female participants.
The programme launched its 2025 activities with a feedback session at Star Light Academy in Hopley on October 4th, attended by 12 young mothers and women ready to embark on this transformative journey.
The magic of Kusona lies in its unparalleled mentorship, a cornerstone that continues to elevate Zimbabwean creativity. Das Kollective’s unveiling of the 2025 mentor cohort revealed a dynamic blend of visionaries from Harare and Bulawayo, each bringing a distinct voice and purpose to the programme.
Winnie Mashita, celebrated for her work with Tinacra Fashions, empowers participants with technical mastery and a belief that fashion is a tool for transformation. Bethel J, the eco-conscious founder of TotemByBeth, inspires a reimagining of discarded textiles, weaving sustainability into every thread.
Tinashe Madamombe, Kusona’s founder and a gender and communications specialist, ensures the project remains rooted in social impact, while Kudakwashe Takundwa, the digital strategist behind Culxure Mag, reminds creatives that their stories deserve visibility in the digital age.
Adding depth and warmth to the cohort is Chipo ‘MissKay’ Karumazondo, a creative communicator known for the Climate Sheros podcast, who champions the power of women’s voices in transforming communities.
Racheal Ncube, an award-winning poet and digital rights advocate with Skill A Community, empowers women to speak boldly and safely in online spaces.
Rounding off the group is Tadiwanashe “QueTheArtist” Nyanga, a multidisciplinary artist whose 2024 Upcycling Lab directly inspired Kusona’s sustainability focus. His philosophy — “creativity has no borders, only rhythm, colour, and soul”—captures the spirit of Kusona’s mission.
Together, these mentors form a constellation of guidance, innovation, and empowerment, shaping a new generation of Zimbabwean creatives. This intercity collaboration – featuring Takundwa, Ncube, and MissKay from Bulawayo alongside Madamombe and QueTheArtist from Harare – exemplifies Zimbabwe’s growing national creative synergy, fostered further through initiatives like the July 2025 Das Kollective Treffen in Bulawayo, focused on proposal development and strengthening cross-city partnerships.
After months of intensive workshops, mentorship, and creative exploration, the project will culminate in two impactful public events that reflect both the participants’ transformation and the broader community engagement. First, the Community Fashion Activation in Hopley will bring the art of Kusona and messages of climate consciousness directly into the streets, engaging the very community that nurtured the initiative.
Then, on 22 November 2025, the grand finale will unfold on the prestigious Zimbabwe German Society runway, where participants will present their upcycled fashion collections alongside digital storytelling projects — photographs, narratives, and possibly digital portfolios.
This final showcase will be a celebration of resilience, innovation, and the tangible outcomes of empowerment, witnessed by the public, media, and key industry stakeholders.
“Kusona brings together creativity, sustainability, and women’s empowerment in a powerful synergy. By turning waste into wearable art, we’re not only reducing environmental impact but also actively restoring confidence, purpose, and economic agency to young women facing significant challenges,” reiterated Madamombe. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
