Andrew
Veronica Gwaze
BUDDING fashionista Michael “Jerome” Nzeve’s rise to stardom sounds like a fairytale.
From a young Churchill Boys High School student, who spent most of his time sketching designs, he now rubs shoulders with local celebrities and the big names in the fashion industry.
Affectionately known as Jerome, the 28-year-old designed the eye-catching and elegant suit that Zimdancehall star Freeman wore at his recent album launch.
He designs outfits for artistes such as Jah Prayzah, Mambo Dhuterere, Peter ‘Dhewa’ Moyo and Romeo Gasa.
What strikes most about the lanky designer is how he still chooses to remain modest and barely brags about his magical touch.
“I find it hard to believe that I am actually doing this. It feels like a dream that I am yet to wake up from,” he said.
Interestingly, Jerome is a self-taught designer, who, due to lack of funds, failed to enrol at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, where he wanted to study fashion.
Refusing to let his dream fade away, Jerome would sketch designs at home.
His breakthrough came after a friend introduced him to singer Cindy Munyavi.
Munyavi encouraged him to turn the designs into real garments.
“I never pictured myself as a seamstress one day. I simply loved making designs and she gave me a different perspective altogether,” he recalls.
In 2015, Jerome designed the outfit that was donned by the late Zimdancehall chanter, Soul Jah Love, at a show dubbed “The Sting”.
With Munyavi’s encouragement, Jerome started to learn the art of garment making.
He had to use an old sewing machine to learn how to sew.
He would rip apart old clothes and rejoin them, as he learnt how to assemble a garment.
From these pieces, he mastered how to draft pattern pieces.
“I would strip old clothes, then reassemble them. That is how I grasped the art of making a garment,” said Jerome.
“With time, I started making my own clothes and in a short time, I became the talk of the neighbourhood, although I was not confident of my work.”
It was, however, very difficult for Jerome to convince his family that one can earn a living from designing.
Jerome had to sell some of his possessions to acquire his first electric sewing machine.
In 2018, Jerome mounted his debut exhibition at a fashion show that was hosted by Skyliner of Off-Key designs.
Seemingly gaining traction, the following year, he co-hosted a show with the same designer.
That same year, Jerome also took part in a fashion gala that was hosted at Meikles Hotel.
“The show had big names like award-winning designer Coco and Zuva. I was working from our home in Chitungwiza and, as I was dressing my models, I thought of quitting,” Jerome said.
Much to his surprise, those in attendance were ecstatic when his model showcased his products.
After the show, he was engaged by some of the big names, who commissioned him to design their outfits for that year’s edition of the South African Soweto Fashion Show.
With more doors opening, he moved his workshop from Chitungwiza to the Harare central business district.
Through passion and hard work, Jerome has risen to become one of the most sought-after designers.
“The first time Freeman saw my designs, he refused to believe that they were mine and he brushed me off. Instead of being demotivated, this actually made me feel more confident,” said Jerome.
“For a while, we did not communicate until one day, when he called and asked me to meet him.
“That marked the beginning of our journey.
“Later, I was to get a surprise call from Mambo Dhuterere, seeking my services. I still feel like I am dreaming considering where I come from.”
He plans to open a fashion boutique in Harare.
“I have no intention of relocating to other countries. I want to make a name for myself here in Zimbabwe by setting up an industry that will attract A-listers. I pray that I will achieve this dream,” Jerome said.
Online Reporter