Mzilikazi boy eyes Singapore fashion market

Bruce Ndlovu
THE arrival of Zimbabwean fashion designers at the world stage is something to marvel at because not only one a�?breaks ina�? but they are getting thereA� en masse. From Farai Simoyi who has worked with the likes of Nicki Minaj and Beyonce on their fashion labels to the likes of Thembani Mubochwa who have excelled in both South Africa and Zimbabwe where he has dressed high profile celebrities, Zimbo designers are on the rise.

In another corner of the world, hidden from the spotlight that has turned the likes of Mubochwa and Simoyi into overnight darlings of the fashion world, Bulawayo-born Nqabeni Msimanga is also prospering with his Prefecture clothing label.

Due to his roots, Msimanga has managed to establish a niche for himself as a designer whose products bear a distinctly African imprint.

The 32-year-old left Zimbabwe at the age of 13 after having his early education at Mzilikazi Primary School and Milton High School. He went on to attend Whitefield Secondary School and Harrow Weald College in the UK before completing his tertiary education at the London College of Communication.

While some might find the passion to go into fashion from magazine catalogues or from witnessing the work of famous fashion designers first hand, for Mr Q as Msimanga is known, the interest was cultivated by his grandfather.

a�?My grandfather was the inspiration behind all of this because he was the most elegantly masculine and immaculately dressed man I ever knew. His dress sense spoke very eloquently of his demeanour without him having to utter a word and, as a result, there was a huge sense of pride I took in being his grandson,a�? said Msimanga.

While some in Africa might still be stuck with the mentality that fashion is a feminine pursuit, this is not so for Msimanga.

a�?On the contrary, men have always dominated fashion, much to the chagrin of women who have always felt marginalised by a male dominated industry.a�?

a�?I specialise in mena��s products therefore my take on a�?fashiona�? is very different from a male designer producing womena��s clothing. Tailoring is about rigid rules, formality and tradition while trying to find my own voice without a�?rocking the boata�� too much,a�? he said.

The designer, who has been married for four years with one child from that union, said that things were not always easy for designers in Singapore as people in that country were obsessed with big name western brands.

a�?Home grown fashion has unfortunately taken a backseat to large international brands. However, Singapore is still a very young but incredibly successful country therefore it is slowly beginning to cultivate its own creative and fashion voice. To that end, now is possibly the best window of opportunity to be in the industry as I get to be part of the early a�?brick worka�� that will define the scene in later years,a�? he said.

Despite the growth of the fashion scene in Zimbabwe, he said he was still largely in the dark about developments back home.

a�?Unfortunately I dona��t have an eye on the fashion scene back home as I am not aware of what is actually happening within it.a�?

a�?I would however,A� love to be involved with manufacturers and fabric producers from my country of origin. I was amazed while travelling in Paris 7 years ago when a Japanese denim producer informed me that Zimbabwean cotton was regarded as one of the three best cottons in the world for making jeans,a�? he said. .