Upcycled elegance: Nazivimbo’s journey to eco-friendly fashion

Faith Ndlovu
When some see used bottle lids, they see the trash – one that has to be thrown away, but for one talented fashion designer Sifiso “Nazivimbo” Moyo, the discarded lids are lucrative as she is gifted in creating a trend of designer clothes through them.
Hailing from the thickest of Avoca in Filabusi, Matabeleland South, Nazivimbo is a talented designer and entrepreneur who is on a mission to redefine the boundaries of sustainable fashion.
With a creative eye and a passion for environmental responsibility, she is transforming discarded lids and other materials into stunning clothes and accessories.
Using a combination of craftsmanship and innovative techniques, Nazivimbo creates unique handmade items. Her designs range from elegant dresses, bags, jewellery and home decor. Each piece tells a story of potential hidden within the discarded materials.
Her recent major gig was being one of the designers who provided costumes for the youths who did the catwalk and runway at the Miss and Mr Rural Zimbabwe Matabeleland South provincials which were held at Avoca business centre.
She said her interest in eco-friendly fashion began with a simple observation – the alarming amount of waste generated from different items that can be recycled.
Determined to make a difference, she started experimenting with upcycling bottle lids to create beautiful, functional pieces of costumes that challenge the status quo of fast fashion.
“I started picking up plastic lids because our surroundings were very dirty and when I started picking them (lids), people thought I was crazy, hence they gave me a nickname Nazivimbo which has become my trade name.
“While many thought I had gone insane, back in my mind I knew that I wanted to create something fashionable with these lids, an initiative that is also a campaign that encourages people to recycle materials if possible, and not throw them away.
“I make dresses, jewellery such as earrings, necklaces, and bangles and I also create tiles that have become a hit at most Filabusi homesteads,” said Nazivimbo.
Courtesy of her unique craft, Nazivimbo was given a platform to be amongst female designers who showcased at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit exhibition which was held in Harare.
“I come from rural areas and it’s very hard for talent in our areas to be discovered and given a platform to showcase to the world. I was privileged to have been one of the exhibitors at the SADC Summit in Harare because that allowed me to show my talent and represent women in my community of Filabusi,” she said.
The SADC gig opened doors for the designer such that she got invited by King Mswati III to exhibit at the Eswatini international Trade Fair.
“Getting an invite from King Mswati himself was a dream come true and I hope that his kind gesture will inspire other leaders to also give people with a rural background a chance to showcase their skills just like their counterparts in urban areas,” said Nazivimbo.
As she gains more and more recognition, Nazivimbo expects her brand to continue growing in leaps and bounds.
She is committed to pushing the boundaries in sustainable fashion by collaborations with local artistes, as well as sharing her knowledge with designers on different workshops and educational programs.