Fashion. One word that has been on people's mouths so much of late. In the past couple of years we've seen Zimbos appreciating fashion to a higher level. Be it on the screen, newspapers or social media, one can tell that this is industry is slowly taking over. We've seen the number of fashion designers increasing. Fashion photographers, Fashion stylists, runway models, Fashion bloggers and also retailers have increased in a tremendous way.
As much as this industry is rising at a fast rate, there's definitely a lot to do for us to reach the greatest levels. I had a chance to talk to some of the great and popular names in the fashion industry, asking them of some of the challenges they are facing and how we can improve our industry and this is what they had to say.
Renowned Stylist and producer of Zimbabwe Fashion Week Haleema Mekani had this to say, "The main challenges that we face as the fashion industry is firstly, the deserve attitude whereby people feel they deserve to have things done for them. Also the fact that people have ideas but they don't implement them and it ends up being all talk no action. Lack of quality, knowledge and creativity also affects the industry as there's so much repetition of designs". Asked about how we can improve the industry, she says "People working in the fashion industry need to stop waiting for someone to revive or invest in the industry as we are the ones who understand the challenges better. We should focus on creating a value chain that will begin to sustain us as creatives and setting structures that can lead to a successful industry later in the future ".
Much truth was said there and yes as the ones working in the industry, it's our duty to take it to those heights that we want it to be.
Managed to get hold of Bulawayo based designer Annie Gonyora of Annie G Couture also on the challenges and improvements of this growing industry of ours. "As a highly academic country, little is invested in the arts as they haven't realised that it's one of the leading revenue generators in other countries. Lack of variety in resources has also made fashion seemingly monotonous. Culture has also played a part as it becomes a barrier in limiting creators the ability to fully express themselves. For this industry to improve, we need more institutions that create fashion gurus instead of seamstresses. The country also needs to start producing it's fabric locally".
Style icon and social entrepreneur, Gilmore Tee had the same sentiments. "The fashion industry is overlooked like most artistic genres yet it's an industry everyone is involved in. For whatever event one is going to, they think of what to wear and that alone should make people realise that it's an industry that needs enough support to also sustain our economy". On improving the industry, he had this to say, "Designers need to partner with big fashion houses and cooperates hence commercialising their work. Local fashion people need to invest a lot in quality so as to reach maximum levels and it'll be easier to penetrate the global market with our works".
"Designers seek more exposure, knowledge and schooling for their brands to work for them", said Style Icon and Stylist of the Year 2015 Craig Zoowie. "Resources are also not readily available for designers to work with. Some designer's social circles are limited and yet they all have a separate and distinct niche market of their own to target. To improve our industry, more workshops are needed to school designers on art of fashion. Networking is also important especially with organisations that can help with sourcing resources from fabric to social media marketing".
I also had a chance to talk to Ngugi Vere, the creative director for Soweto Fashion Week on this sensitive topic and he had this to say, "I think there are two main challenges faced by the Zim Fashion industry,lack of togetherness for one common goal and the promoting of local designers for local retail. To improve this, Fashion engines in Zimbabwe need to come together and create a solid and effective fashion council that will manage all things that got to do with events, designer development and industrialisation then retail takeover. We need to create products that are Zimbabwean but appeal to the world. Proposing our strategy to the government can make them to back the industry and invest in it".
Bulawayo-based Stylist Welshman Sibanda had this to say, "I feel there's lack of support from the arts ministry especially when it comes to the fashion industry. For us to improve our industry we need big brands like Edgars and Truworths to push local brands and utilise designers. People in the industry also need to work together and understand that they can't flourish without the other's input. There needs to be a fashion committee too to make sure that unity is instilled then we'll be taken seriously".
Last but not least I talked to Tendy Kamusikiri, fashion blogger at SignatureToscie and Fashion editor at Infinite Magazine. She had this to say concerning the challenges and improvements needed for our fashion industry, "There are a lot of challenges that our industry faces. One can talk of lack capital and good quality fabrics. There's also some levels of ignorance from the general public and some lack of professionalism. Cheap imports and second hand bales also crush our industry. Room for improvement will include more collaborations where all parties can gain".
So there we have it folks. Yes we might have the challenges but that doesn't stop us from bettering our industry. Let's support each other locally and if we stand united , we can do this.
Till next time fashionistas
