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.