This article was first published on EnthuseAfrika.com
Zimbabwean clothing label Shadow by
Sidumiso which was founded by Sidumiso Tshuma, is amongst the three Zimbabwean
designers that will showcase this week at the Durban Fashion Fair 2015. It will
be the label’s second appearance after it displayed a high quality ready to
wear collection last year. The prestigious event will be held from the 26th
to the 29th of August.
The designers passed through the Edgars
Young Designer Development Programme, an initiative by Hunnar Management Agency
and Edgars Stores Ltd. They are therefore expected to showcase their
professionalism and quality collection during their shows where they will
showcase their 16 looks collection.
The participation at the Durban Fashion
Fair is as a result of the twinning relationship between Bulawayo and EThekwini.
The twinning agreement was signed in 2010. Bulawayo has been participating in
the annual ‘Celebrate Durban’ since the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) in 2002. Zimbabwe’s participation at the Fashion Fair
started last year with representation from Shadow by Sidumiso, BlinQ Xclusive
Jewellery, and Ara Kani.
“These recent developments coupled with
the City’s history as a clothing industrial hub, will further compliment the
anticipated declaration of Bulawayo as a special economic zone for clothing and
leather. We hope that what the designers learn will be able to put the City on
the international fashion map and join other cities such as Milan, Paris and
London,” said Mrs. Nesisa Mpofu, the Senior Public Relations Officer of the
City of Bulawayo.
Durban Fashion Fair is one of the
leading Fashion Events in Africa and it attracts the stature of internationally
recognized fashion weeks. The fashion event will be running for 4 years this
August and it is attended by a thousand fashion buyers, textile companies,
fashionistas, media and industry players. Through hosting the Durban Fashion
Fair programme, over 1500 temporal jobs are created and 500 are created through
development, mentoring and training of designers.
“I am happy to report that over 2500
people attended Durban Fashion Fair 2014. Industry workshops conducted by
leading industry experts Dion Chang and Nicola Cooper went very well with over
120 fashionistas and industry players attending. Pop Up Shops provided a good
platform for buyers to interact with exhibitors”, lamented Cllr James Nxumalo,
Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Durban.
Every year 10 young designers from
Durban Fashion Fair are selected to attend the Milan Internship Programme and
other designers are invited to participate in the South African Fashion and
Culture Show in London. The Event is LIVE streamed online on SDR LIVE.
“I am really excited to be showcasing at
DFF, it is a great opportunity for any designer to be involved in international
shows such as this. It is one of my best highlights so far and my collection
will represent a sophisticated, bold woman,” said Zanele Dube
“Durban Fashion Fair is such a good
platform to penetrate the commercial world of fashion. Having been considered
from a hundred applicants is a humbling feeling. It is a good push to the right
direction and I am really grateful to Edgars Stores for training me to be the
best I can be,” added, Saneliso Mpofu
“I am excited to have been invited once
again to showcase at the Durban Fashion Fair. When you put in work in
perfecting your craft, it eventually shows. DFF is highly competitive, you have
designers such as Thula Sindi, David Tlale and Paledi Segapo showcasing, and
hence an invitation to showcase again is appreciated. I am going to do my best to
represent Zimbabwean Fashion,” lamented, Sidumiso Tshuma.
No comments:
Post a Comment