Online Reporter
Lincoln Towindo
Deputy National Editor
LONG before her designs reached international clients, Ms Nkanyeziyethu Malunga was a young girl in Tsholotsho, watching her grandmother dye fabric with wild berries and craft everyday items by hand — traditions that are now finding new life through her brand, GANU.
Today, those early memories have evolved into a distinctive fashion identity that is turning heads at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), where Ms Malunga is among eight emerging entrepreneurs showcasing under the ZimTrade pavilion.
For Malunga, GANU represents a deliberate effort to preserve and reimagine indigenous knowledge systems through fashion and textiles.
“The knowledge was fast dying,” she said, reflecting on the traditional practices she witnessed growing up.
“I wanted to tap into it and keep it alive.”
“I wanted a brand that could be associated with celebrating African heritage and culture.
Although her grandmother passed on before she could fully inherit those skills, Ms Malunga found a bridge through her mother, who became instrumental in passing down fragments of that knowledge.
From those foundations, she began experimenting, translating tradition into wearable art.
At the heart of GANU is the use of natural materials and traditional techniques, including dyeing fabrics using nyii, a wild berry indigenous to Zimbabwe, and extracts from tree bark.
These methods, once common in rural communities, are now being repositioned within contemporary fashion.
“If I can use nyii, then the world will know about Zimbabwe—it’s our lifestyle,” she said.
Her work also extends beyond materials to storytelling.
One of her standout design themes is inspired by the iconic wall paintings of women in Matobo, whose intricate patterns decorate homesteads each year, only to be washed away by seasonal rains.
Rather than let the art disappear, Ms Malunga collaborates with these women to translate their designs into textile prints and knitwear, preserving them in a new, lasting form.
“This was an attempt to preserve that artwork,” she explained.
“We are taking what is on those houses and putting it into fashion.”
Participation at ZITF marks another milestone in her journey, offering both exposure and opportunity.
Backed by ZimTrade, Malunga has benefited from capacity-building initiatives such as the SheExports programme, which equips women-led businesses with skills in export readiness, quality assurance and market access.
The programme has been a turning point.
“I have been exposed to so much,” she said.
“The training has improved my quality to a level where I can confidently compete globally.”
Her confidence is not misplaced.
GANU is already attracting clients beyond Zimbabwe’s borders, with orders being shipped internationally – small but steady steps into the global marketplace.
“I am not just representing myself; I am representing Zimbabwe,” she said.
Still, Ms Malunga acknowledges that the journey has not been without challenges.
Zimbabwe’s fashion industry continues to grapple with issues such as quality, consistency and keeping pace with global trends.
“Sometimes we create things that were relevant five years ago,” she noted.
“But we are working on that, and I think we are getting it right.”
Encouragingly, she sees clear progress, both within her own brand and across the sector.
“There’s a huge difference from where we were five to ten years ago,” she said.
“Even looking at other stands here, I am proud.”
Exposure to international expertise has also helped sharpen her edge.
She recalls intensive training sessions led by a Belgium-based designer working across multiple countries- an experience that significantly raised her standards and expectations.
Now, the opportunities are beginning to align with the effort.
At this year’s ZITF, GANU has already attracted interest from three South African companies seeking partnerships, an indication of growing regional demand.
With a small, contract-based team, Ms Malunga is cautiously optimistic about scaling up.
“With the promising propositions we have received, everything is looking good,” she said.
“We may soon have to expand and go into full production.”
According to ZimTrade, the businesses exhibiting under its pavilion are being prepared for exactly this kind of transition- from small-scale operations to export-ready enterprises.
“What unites these businesses is the journey they are preparing to take in international trade,” the organisation said.
“ZITF offers a platform to sharpen negotiation skills, build relationships and translate interest into export orders.”
For Ms Malunga, the journey is deeply personal – rooted in childhood memories, shaped by cultural pride, and driven by a vision to place Zimbabwean heritage firmly on the global fashion map.
“For me, this is in my DNA,” she said.
“It’s who I am.”
