Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE stunning baobab-inspired national costume worn by Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025, Lyshanda Moyas, was not just a showpiece.
It was the result of two weeks of non-stop work, creativity, and meticulous craftsmanship.
That is the message from its creators, Ivhu Tribe.
Ivhu Tribe director Trish Degwa told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub that the team worked tirelessly to meet the tight deadline while ensuring every detail reflected Zimbabwean heritage.
She said the process of creating Lyshanda’s costume involved countless hours of sketching, dyeing, handcrafting, and assembling, a true labour of love for the Ivhu Tribe team.
“It took about two weeks to make the costume. The time we had left was pretty hectic, but we made it happen,” Degwa said.
“Seeing her on stage in our costume made us want to create even more.
“As time passes, we refine our art. It only gets better.”
Titled ‘Born of the Baobab, Forged in Flame,’ the design was inspired by the iconic Baobab tree, a symbol of ancestral protection, endurance, and renewal.
“Every element of the outfit tells a story, from the ethically harvested baobab fibre used for the tail to the natural dyes that rendered deep black, ember-red, and sun-orange – colours chosen to represent the land, the bloodline, and transformative fire.”
Degwa highlighted the painstaking attention to detail. “Scattered across the costume, like stars fallen from the sky, are shapes of baobab leaves, each bedazzled in fire-coloured stones.
“These leaves are more than decorations; they are symbols of regeneration.
“Just as the Baobab drops its leaves and blooms again, so do we rise after every fall.
“The fiery stones catch the light, paying tribute to the spark in every soul and the radiance of our cultural spirit.”
She added: “We walk with the Baobab behind us, beside us, within us. We are children of its fibre, guardians of its flame, and carriers of its character.”
Ivhu Tribe continues to showcase African creativity on international stages.
Earlier this year, the fashion house also created a national costume for Faith Bwalya, Miss World Zambia 2025.
Lyshanda’s performance placed her among the Top 30 contestants, one of only three Africans to reach that stage at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant in Thailand.
Mexico’s Fátima Bosch, 25, walked away with the Miss Universe 2025 crown, becoming her country’s second titleholder after Andrea Meza’s 2020 victory.
Mathew Masinge