Zim women go ankara crazy

Yoliswa Dube Chronicle Reporter
ANKARA crazy is what Zimbabwean women are this minute! The African print fashion trend has been taken to weddings, the office, cocktails and other events that women have used their dressing to impress.Ankara is material made of vibrant patterns of very rich colorful designs. Mostly made of 100 percent cotton or cotton poly material, the trend was made popular by Mafikizolo songstress Nhlanhla Nciza who stepped out in African print high-waist skirts for the group’s video hits Khona and Happiness.

Zimbabwe Big Brother Africa Season 8 representative Pokello Nare and her Ghanaian better half-cum tailor Elikem Kumordzie have on several occasions also hit the streets in African print. Former Miss Zimbabwe Lorraine Maphala Phiri and her daughter, Dineo have also joined the craze as they were recently spotted clad in African print outfits.

The African print is called ankara in Nigeria, chitenje in Zambia, shiki in Tanzania and shweshwe in South Africa. But, the new chic trend has exposed Zimbabweans who don’t have a national dress.

Harare-based fashion designer and make-up artiste, Theresa Mavhima who designs clothes from the material said it was unfortunate that in as much as Zimbabweans have embraced African inspired clothing; they don’t own a look unique to them.

“I’d like to wake up one morning to a fabric unique to Zimbabwe. Because we don’t have our own traditional attire, we get into something and go crazy about it.

“And because we don’t have a national fabric, we really don’t consider whether or not the trends we borrow are appropriate for certain occasions,” said Mavhima.

“In Nigeria, they wear their ankara every day except maybe to the office. In South Africa it’s popular to wear African print to weddings. As Zimbabweans, we want to see an international celebrity wearing something for us to appreciate it.”

The fashionista said it was nonetheless good that women had begun to dress more graciously.

“Women in Zimbabwe had been walking around half naked because of the fashion trends they had been borrowing from western countries. It’s good that the African print has allowed them to dress more decently.

“As a woman, you’re appreciated and respected more when you’re dressed decently unlike what has been happening because of western dress trends.

“It’s unfortunate though that we have to buy this African print material from Ghana, Tanzania and South Africa,” said Mavhima.
Printed material has proven to be an extremely important trend, giving African print an opportunity to flourish.

It’s definitely not your mama’s traditional skirt and blouse. We’re now seeing it in cropped tops, high waist shorts and skirts, peplum tops, pleated, pencil and maxi skirts, dresses, trousers and jackets.

One can put a little spin on African print pieces to make them totally modern. For example, an African print peplum top can be paired with summer torn boyfriend jeans. Boyfriend jeans (loose-fitted jeans) are a super-hot trend; they’re comfortable and look awesome on almost all body types.

It would be too predictable and almost too classic to pair this look with a classic pump so an ankle bootie or a very cool or edgy pair of sandals would totally complement the raw look of the jeans.

“African print looks best when it’s not worn monotonously. For example, if blue is your colour, just do one item and not wear it from head to toe.

“Accessories like bangles or something heavy on the neck, of course depending on the design of the outfit, would complement an outfit well,” said Mavhima.