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Arts Correspondent
THE curtain came down on this year’s edition of the Zim Fashion Week that was running under the theme “Fashion Through the Ages” on Saturday at Sam Levy’s Village in Borrowdale, Harare. This year’s showcase saw designers showing a high level of growth and innovativeness.
They made the runway look like a scene from the New York Fashion Week.
The ZFW’s end was marked by a colourful prize giving awards ceremony.
Outstanding players in the fashion industry were honoured with awards in different categories for their contribution in fashion.
Newcomers in the form of Znzorzi Adby proved that there was no limit to what fashion can express.
The 23-year-old fashion design student from Chinhoyi University of Technology gave the audience a lot to think about with his classy but edgy self-titled line for women.
During the presentation, models paraded with weapons while their eyes were painted black.
“My collection was called the ‘True Zimbabwean Story’ and the knives represented the cutting edge elements.
“Cutting edge is more than beautiful and glamorous which is overdone,” said the designer who is fresh from an internship with renowned South African designer David Thlale.
For his efforts, Znzorzi Adby was awarded the Emerging Designer of 2013.
Other displays that stood out included that of South African designer Gavin Rajah, Yemurai Mpinyuri — 2013 Designer of the Year, Joyce Chimanye, Rumbi Mahofa, Terrence Chipembere, Tsitsi Mutendi and Kuda Chigariro.
Meanwhile, exhibitors making their debut at the fashion extravaganza have bemoaned inadequate marketing that resulted in poor attendance at their stands.
The exhibitors, who were showcasing various fashion items for the first time on the sidelines of the two-day fashion extravaganza, did not realise much business in the end.
“The initiative to have us exhibit our stuff was good but poor marketing resulted in poor attendance at our stands,” said Takunda Mujuru, who was showcasing leather bags on his stand.
Similar sentiments were echoed by another exhibitor Rumbidzai Manzou.
On her stand, she was showcasing various urban wear under the brand, “I Heart Zim”.
“The few people that were coming through loved our stuff.
“Unfortunately, we could not make many sales because potential customers did not come prepared to buy anything. Most of them were not aware that we would be here,” she said.
She was, however, happy with the responses she was getting in terms of orders, enquiries and ideas on how to improve the “I Heart Zim” brand that she created with her brother Tinashe.
“People liked our idea of promoting our country and expressing our love for it. Hopefully, with better preparations, we can make better business,” she said.
Online Reporter