Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
Zimpapers Arts, Entertainment Hub
SEASONED fashion designer and stylist Thembani Mubochwa says he has no regrets returning to Zimbabwe after spending years working in South Africa.
Mubochwa, who made the bold decision to settle permanently in his homeland earlier this year, said he has already established a lucrative market for his creations in Zimbabwe.
Working alongside his daughter, Evylin, who celebrated her 14th birthday at the weekend, Mubochwa said he is now in a good place to focus on growing his fashion business.
“Home is always best, as they say, because you don’t have to stress yourself knowing that you are in your motherland,” Mubochwa told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
“I had always wanted to come back, especially considering the disturbances in South Africa.
“I lived there for years with my family, but earlier this year I made the bold decision to return home. “I felt that South Africa was no longer a safe place for me because of the recurring xenophobic attacks.”
Mubochwa, who has been promoting his Afro Jumbo clothing line, said there is a ready market for locally designed fashion.
“For your own information, there is a new breed of talented fashion designers and stylists doing very well in Zimbabwe.
“With more collaboration among ourselves, we can go far and make a lasting impression.
“Now that I am back home, I am simply doing what I love most with the support of my loyal team.”
The affable designer said he has also remained in touch with seasoned designers from his generation, particularly US-based stylist Priscilla Chigariro.
“I was initially hesitant about participating in this year’s Zimbabwe Fashion Week, which runs from October 6 to 10.
“Priscilla was one of the people who convinced me to take part in the event.
“The last time I participated in a local fashion show was in 2014, and since then I had not showcased my work on home soil.
“As it stands, I will be making my comeback after 12 years, and I feel rejuvenated to be part of this year’s edition in Harare.”
The designer, who is renowned for creating eye-catching outfits for grooms and groomsmen, said it was time people recognised fashion as a confidence booster rather than just clothing.
During a tour of his workshop in Madokero, Harare, Mubochwa was busy designing outfits for a wedding party.
“Whenever there is a wedding, the focus is mainly on the bride and her gown, while the groom and his groomsmen are often overlooked.
“The bridal gown is worn only on that particular day, while the groom and his team usually buy similar off-the-rack suits from local shops.
“I want to change that narrative by ensuring that groomsmen receive the same level of attention as the bridal team.
“I have come up with unique outfits that are exclusively designed for the wedding day,” he said.
The celebrated stylist believes Zimbabweans are increasingly embracing locally made fashion.
“You might be surprised to learn that many well-to-do people are willing to spend money on locally made clothing, contrary to the belief that they only prefer foreign brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Versace, and Dior.
“I have been designing local products that many influential people have embraced.
“Business personalities such as Philip Chiyangwa, Cde Chamu Chiwanza, Mathias Mhere, and many others have supported my work, which shows they have confidence in local products. “It is high time we appreciated locally made fashion, just as they do in West Africa, where top celebrities proudly support local designers.
“We can do the same in Zimbabwe because we have immensely talented designers.”
He added that fashion-conscious Zimbabweans have the purchasing power to sustain the local industry.
“People always want to look presentable, and that has made us unique in our own way.
“I will continue doing my best to ensure that we keep providing quality products and services to our loyal clients.”
However, Mubochwa expressed disappointment over some designers who fail to deliver customers’ orders on time.
“To be honest, some designers are tarnishing our industry’s image by failing to deliver orders on schedule.
“Many of them are talented but lack professionalism.
“That kind of behaviour is unacceptable because they are only shooting themselves in the foot.
“We cannot continue operating like this because we are harming our own industry.
“In my case, I make sure we deliver on time. Sometimes we even work from a client’s home so they can monitor our progress until the job is complete.”
With years of international experience under his belt and a renewed commitment to the local fashion industry, Mubochwa is determined to leave a lasting legacy in Zimbabwe.
Beyond designing stylish garments, he hopes to inspire a new generation of designers through professionalism, collaboration, and innovation, proving that locally made fashion can compete with the world’s biggest brands.
