Matabeleland Fashion Week 2015 misses the Fashion Week points

The second edition of the 2015 Matabeleland Fashion week which was held last weekend at Fazak Complex did not live up to expectations. It was a huge flop from last year’s launch. The high expectations which were created by last year’s launch and met were totally destroyed by this year’s event.

Firstly, it was too costly for no name designers especially on the first and second day. At US$15 the designers should have been well known established designers not for debutants.

Secondly, Bulawayo is not yet ready for an intense 3 day straight up fashion week; people still need to be cultured on fashion since it is still recognised as an elitist sector.

To show that people have little knowledge on fashion, during some of the showcased collections at the Matabeleland Fashion Week, some of the audience members would clap to every garment that was walking out. In actual sense, clapping at a fashion week is acknowledgement of good coordination of works on the runway.

Thirdly, the production was poor, fashion weeks’ model walk is straight up and it has no routines involved unlike at Matabeleland Fashion. Technically, there is need for clear lighting and music for each collection should be unique to that particular collection, not the same for every designers show. For example, ‘The Black Collection’ by fashion designer Litso which was in memory of the close people that the designer has lost this year was accompanied by a hyped song, in turn the message was lost.

Model on the runway | Picture from newsday.co.zw

Fourthly, the producer and designer should always work on the song criteria for each collection as each collection demands an entire production requiring linkages between the clothes and sound, vis-a-vis to easily communicate the message of the collection.

Fifthly, a fashion week does not have a visible Master of Ceremony. The MC acts as a voice over as the interest is on the clothes not them. There is no need for the MC to interact and interview the audience because that is not the main business of the event. For example, on day 2 Bulawayo’s Sweetheart Mbo Mahocs who was the MC, was seen sprouting across the venue, interviewing and putting the audience on the spot while waiting for collections to come out.

Sixthly, the models selection criteria needs to be properly revised, models should be alerted on not chewing gum on the runway, smiling and removal of body visible piercings, amongst many other things. Models walks need to be refined same as their stares on the runway.

Moreover, there is need for designers to be well informed on what a collection is, from the understanding of the word ‘collection’ it suggests that the clothes being showcased, either have the same fabrics, styling or theme. Even the guest designer from South Africa, Millicent Nkangane failed to display a proper collection. However most of her individual pieces were strong and showed a creative touch. Collections from designers such as Vons designs, Nkosi Nkomo and Sanah designs, indicated well thought collections from each of them, linking each garment to the next in a story telling way.

However, the clean set up accompanied by a plain white tent, all white Wimbledon chairs, and the green lawn-like runway, brought a sophisticated feel better than last year’s Launch Event. The bespoke dressed ushers fitted easily into the color theme of the entire event.

The closing of this year’s Matabeleland Fashion Week which was accompanied by an awarding ceremony and live performance by Afro-Soul Musician - Squash, attracted a huge audience more than the first and second day. Individuals such as the Stylist, Welshman Sibanda, Le Cyril Photography and Jackie Mgido of Vault Cosmetics ended the fashion show on a high note by scooping awards in their respective categories.

We need to be honest with each other as to grow the industry and not ‘sugar’ quote things. At the end of it all, for those attending a fashion week for the first time and see such unplanned events, it paints the entire industry as a mediocrity sector. Let’s hope the Fashion Week will learn from this event and grow for next year.

SA’s Top Billing recognize Zim Designer

This article was published on EnthuseAfrika.com

Zimbabwe’s top designer Saneliso Mpofu of Sanah Designs’ exquisite Durban Fashion Fair collection was featured on South Africa’s lifestyle show Top Billing.

Saneliso Mpofu of Sanah Designs | Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Top Billing is an SABC 3 programme known for its appreciation of top, quality, luxurious and high end lifestyle. The show covers events, luxurious homes, cuisines and top lifestyle from across the globe. It is presented by South Africa’s top presenters such as Bonang Matheba, Lorna Maseko, Jeanie D, amongst other impressive personalities.

Sanah Designs | Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

To those that follow the television show, they identify it with its particular attention to detail and unique lifestyle. Its signature is one that celebrates good life and outstanding contributors to it. With over 50 designers from across Africa and other parts of the world showcasing, Durban Fashion Fair proved fit for Top Billing to cover it.

Sanah Designs | Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

The same goes for our very own Zimbabwean designer, Sanah Designs, whose Spring Summer 2016 collection caught the attention of the show. Sanah Designs alongside South Africa’s Terrence Bray, Thula Sindi, Italy’s Jamal Taslaq, amongst many, got coverage on Top Billing as some of the best collections from the 2015 Durban Fashion Fair.

"Top billing is an exceptionally outstanding lifestyle show.Its a blessing in disguise to see part of my DDF collection on the show's segment 'Turning up the heat at Durban fashion fair'.Having been exposed to such publicity,penetrating through the fashion industry at global platforms is my main goal"-lamented Saneliso Mpofu of Sanah Designs.

Zah Designs | Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Saneliso Mpofu of  Sanah Designs set the standards high for Zimbabwe fashion alongside Sidumiso Tshuma of Shadow By Sidumiso, and Zandile Dube the founder of ZAH Designs at the Durban Fashion Fair held in Durban, South Africa from the 26^th to the 29^th of August 2015. The 3 top designers who passed through the Edgars Young Designer Development Programme presented exclusive collections which caught the eye of fashion revellers and the media.

Shadow By Sidumiso | Simon Deiner/SDR Photo

Sanah Designs daring and contemporary collection was inspired by the beetle, and the costumes had highlights of the insect. Conversely, ZAH Designs presented a strong bold all female collection representing life with its green highlights. The ever outstanding workmanship of Shadow by Sidumiso resulted in South Africa Idols judge, Somizi picking an outfit off the runway from the designers’ Spring Summer 2016 collection. Somizi went on to be featured on Top Billing in a Shadow by Sidumiso jacket.

As their homecoming celebration, the 3 designers will have a special feature at the Intwasa Fashion Show. The special feature is to acknowledge their contribution to Zimbabwean fashion and also inspire other upcoming designers.

Award Winning, NDAU collection x Tholakele Dhlamini feature on BBC World News

This article was first published on EnthuseAfrika.com

Award winning Zimbabwean designers the NDAU collection and Bulawayo's top model Tholakele Dhlamini were recently featured on the British Broadcasting Cooperation World News.

NDAU collection who are based in The Victoria Falls are an all round internationally recognised jewellery brand known for its luxurious pieces ranging from wrist bands, neck pieces, earrings and rings.

 They have showcased at various fashion platforms such as the Zimbabwe Fashion Week, Mercedes Fashion Week, Africa Fashion Week, and they also debuted one of their collections in Las Vegas, in the US, amongst other platforms.

The NDAU collection was recognised by BBC World News as one of Africa’s most outstanding and unique jewellery designers.  The whole special interview on the delicate jewellery brand was to highlight on how they use indigenous African materials to create outstanding jewellery pieces. The exclusive feature was to elaborate on how the jewellery brand has a strong traditional Zimbabwean influence which they have turned into contemporary history through their creative work.

One of their head designers,  Joe Mutoko comes from a third generation of jewellers and is keeping up with the family tradition in the resort town of Victoria falls by creating be-scope high end jewellery which is affectionally known as the NDAU collection. All their jewellery is handmade. They use material such as crocodile skin, steel, silver, beads, and stones to create luxurious pieces.

NDAU collection is popular amongst the glitz and glam of the entertainment industry both international and local.  International celebrities such as Toya Dalezy, Chelsy Davy and Zahara are amongst the international celebrities who have been spotted wearing the luxurious pieces. Zimbabwean top runway model Tholakele Dhlamini, radio personalities, Lochnation and Ruvheneko Parirenyatwa are some of the local prominent individuals that have been seen wearing NDAU jewellery.

Late 2013 NDAU collection collaborated with the award winning Zimbabwean born top model, Tholakale Dhlamini in doing a photo shoot for one of their jewellery range. Dhlamini is the first Zimbabwean model to be on M-Net Face of Africa and she has also shared the runway with international top model, Naomi Campbell. Due to her striking features, her pictures in NDAU pieces went viral leading in them being featured in the exclusive interview on BBC World News.

The NDAU collection recently added fragrance to their brand. The fragrance which was launched recently is inspired by Africa’s past and present. They collaborated with Tammy Frazer, of Frazer Perfume, to create the fragrances and also glass sculptor David Reade to form the vessels for the perfumes. Their inspiration was the vibrant history of African exploration and trade throughout the ages.

“We should do more to honor and respect our heroes”- Jane Lungile Ngwenya

This article was first published on EnthuseAfrika.com

Revolutionist, Ugogo Jane Lungile Ngwenya affectionately known as Jane Ngwenya in the political circles is a definition of the popular Ndebele term, “Wathinta umfazi wathinta imbokodo.” At 80 years, the former PF-Zapu central committee member and Deputy Minister of Labour, Manpower and Social Welfare is still loyal to the revolutionary.

 In spite of her physical abilities that are depriving her of the freedom to continue partaking in politics, Jane Ngwenya's memory is still sharp. She remembers the events that led to her full involvement in politics. A sacrifice that came with severe consequences.

 Ngwenya was born in the communal lands of Buhera on June 15 1935. She was the first-born child of Gerald Ngwenya, a Suthu from South Africa, who had come to Rhodesia as a Methodist Church missionary. She was raised by her maternal parents as her mother remarried after her father died in 1938.

Growing up, she saw her grandfather being lashed by the white settlers.“I was still a toddler when I first witnessed the White men’ s brutality as they harassed my grandfather who had a lot of cattle by then, and it instilled in us hatred of the white man. That pushed me to hate those dehumanizing acts by the Rhodesians,” narrated Jane Ngwenya.

Ngwenya attended Gwebu Primary School in Buhera, where she began to have problems with the education delivery system.“I remember when we were made to speak English at school which was literally the commencement of brainwashing, we were taught to like and love everything white and hate all things black,” she said.

After standard 2, she went to Charles Wraith, an African School. Jane Ngwenya was to be briefly expelled at the school after she asked about the injustices practiced at the school by the white leaders until some respected members at the school, Henry Kachidza and Va Samukange intervened and begged the school authorities to let her back.

“We were being told at assembly point that we should not worry about earthly riches and I asked the priest called Duncan Manhanga if that heaven was only for blacks. I told him if it was for everyone, why was it that the blacks were only allowed to be in the Whitemen’s lawn when manicuring but after cutting, it was an offense to trespass on that premise you would have worked on,” she said.

Jane Ngwenya got married to George Tinarwo, a driver, in 1953. Her husband wanted her to be a full time housewife but political activism was within her. She attended meetings with her babies strapped on her back. She got arrested for the first time in February 1959, after John Stonehouse came to Zimbabwe and addressed a rally organized by the nationalist leaders at Stanley Hall. Ngwenya spent three weeks at Grey Prison with her three-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

“On being released my husband insisted that I quit politics, which meant, to me, abandoning the struggle for Zimbabwe. I was given very clear options by my husband and relatives; I had to choose between politics and marriage. I chose the struggle and left my husband, “narrated Jane Ngwenya.

In 1960 Jane was among the nationalists who formed the National Democratic Party following the ban of ANC in Northern and Southern Rhodesia in 1959.There were only two women Jane Ngwenya and Lizy Ngole in the structures of the party.

“When we chose our National Democratic Party leadership. That was the first time I saw President Mugabe as he had come from Ghana and we begged him to leave his better paying job in Ghana to be our leader. We used to hear about his works and to us; he was the best candidate to be part of that executive,” she said.

Jane Ngwenya became friends with Cde Sally when she got married to President Mugabe. “Cde Sally invited me to visit her people in Ghana in 1962. We stayed at her parents’ home. I again stayed with her in Tanzania in 1963,” said Ngwenya.

During the All People’s Conference in 1961, which later gave birth to the Organization of African Unity Ngwenya rubbed shoulders with great African statesmen. She became one of the first nationalists to travel to Europe to seek support in order to dislodge the Ian Smith Regime. In Cairo she was part of the committee which worked on the constitution of the OAU. She also joined other African women in politics to form the Pan African Women Organization.

During her travels across the world, she met great people including Major Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space. Back home in 1963 Jane was arrested again for influencing Africans to rebel against the Smith regime and spent three months at the then Gwelo Prison. She was again arrested for attending a gathering addressed by the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo in Bulawayo. She was sent to Wha Wha Prison and was later transferred to Gonakudzingwa Detention Camp. She was released from detention in 1975.

On January 22 1977 Jane Ngwenya was injured after an explosion of a parcel bomb that killed Jason Moyo in Lusaka, Zambia. She still suffers from back pain as a result of the incident. At independence in 1980, Jane was elected into the House of Assembly for Bulawayo constituency and once served as a Deputy Minister of Labour, Manpower and Social Welfare.

Ngwenya had no kind words to upcoming leaders saying they lack discipline and dedication.
“They do not even understand President Mugabe. They only want to enrich themselves; if that was what we had done, surely this country could not have been freed. We should do more to honor and respect our heroes,” lamented Jane Ngwenya.