Online Reporter
Maria Chiguvari
Youth Interactive Writer
AUSTRALIA-BASED designer, model and actor Tariro “TK” Kanduka said she is honoured to have her designs being showcased on international platforms in Australia, Thailand and Malaysia.
TK is also preparing for her New York Fashion Week debut in 2027 after building an emerging fashion career across Australia and Asia.
The 16-year-old’s entry into fashion started in front of the lens. However, walking the runway sparked a deeper curiosity about the artistry behind the clothes, the silhouettes, movement and narrative woven into every garment.
TK spent her first nine years living in Chinhoyi, Harare, and Mount Darwin before moving to Australia.
In an interview with Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub, TK said as she walked the runway, she developed a deeper interest in what happened behind the scenes, particularly the creativity and craftsmanship that went into bringing garments to life.
The turning point came when her mother recognised her raw talent and urged her to bring those sketches to life.
“My mum believed in my ability before I completely believed in it myself.
“She encouraged me to stop seeing my designs as just drawings and start thinking about what they could become,” she said.
TK said she began sketching her own designs before taking the bold step into fashion design with the encouragement of her mother, Leanmary Kanduka, the Creative Design Director of KayCee Couture.
“I started with the dream of becoming a model, but along the way I discovered that I also loved creating and designing clothes.”
Her developing creative identity is being nurtured through KayCee Couture, where she is turning her sketches into designs and gaining exposure to international fashion platforms.
One of her standout collections is Metamorphosis, a concept inspired by a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
The collection explores themes of beauty, growth, transformation and the courage to be seen, while also reflecting Tariro’s own development from an aspiring model into a young designer.
She said the butterfly is symbolic of her creative journey as it represents a young girl who once dreamed of walking the runway and is now watching her own creations take centre stage.
TK said she is looking beyond the modelling runway and hopes to establish an internationally recognised career in the creative industry.
She also wants to use her platform to celebrate her Zimbabwean and African heritage while encouraging other young people to take their ideas seriously.
Tariro believes that age should not limit creativity and that young people can take their dreams beyond the environments in which they began.
On November 24, she is set to showcase at Thailand Fashion Week.
November 27, will see her traveling to Malaysia for an exclusive showcase at the International Fashion Runway , and in September 2027, she will be debuting on the world’s premier stage at New York Fashion Week through Runway7.
