Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2014 Day 3 – ST Favourites

What a spectacle Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2014 was, although yours truly only managed to attend Day 3; there was a lot of buzz and social media engagement to keep anyone informed and at the edge of their seats! From the onset of the ZFW Cocktail party to the Zimbabwe Fashion Awards, every hour of ZFW was documented by avid fashion lovers. So if you missed out, don’t worry just follow #ZFW2014 and @ZFW_Official and you are opened to a portal of Zim’s exciting Fashion Week.

Now with all of the events that were taking place this past weekend (SADC Fashion Week, Fashion Collective Market ZW and Shoko Festival) – ZFW managed to draw in a very strong crowd of loyal fashion lovers and followers who opted to attend every single event from Day 1. Myself however, was found attending Day 3 with my mind ready to be blown away (and blown away it was!). Not only was it a packed hall but the designers brought out their best work, and every show started on time and on point. The schedule for that evening included the following in their timely order:

Chizo by Chisoma Lombe

Moi Amara Couture by Jenika

Zimbabwe Designer Galleria – (Anaia Fashions, Smataz and Haus of Stone)

Faithwear

Taf the Taylor

Zargue’ Sia by Ishmael Tsakatsa

Afrikanus by Rui Lopes

Raaah by Rahima Mohamed

Shirt and Co

Thula Sindi by Thula Sindi

Out of all of the lovely designers, we fell in love with three (3) particular designers who gave us flowing feminine silhouettes, figure hugging contemporary pieces, a new form of appreciation for print and a beautiful colour palette to suit a fashion forward closet; Afrikanus by Rui Lopes, Raaah by Rahima Mohamed and Thula Sindi.

Afrikanus

Afrikanus was by Angolan designer Rui Lopes who showed a stunning 9 piece collection that infused Western fashion with African detailing. African detail in Rui’s designs were found in his incorporation of print – with print detail in two white sheer dresses and a Java print one shoulder shift dress. Afrikanus’ collection gave a nod to the growing international trend of African Fashion on blogs and social media but with a texture of Western characteristics, particularly in the silhouette.

Flirty and cute, with a touch of print and pleated skirt.

Biggest trend on African blogs and social media is Dashiki and Java print, and Afrikanus brought it to us on the runway.

Print detail added to the empire waist and broad collar.

Designer Rui Lopes in his two defining pieces on the runway.

Raaah

Raaah is a label by a Zimbabwean based in the UK. Her collection gave us bold, structured shoulders, a modern and chic take on a women’s safari suit and a flowing but loose asymmetrical dress which had a pop of colour that caught our eye! Rahima’s collection was dubbed the “Fly High Collection” in her look book, and this was her first showing at ZFW 2014 with a very well received applause from the audience. On a personal note, I lusted after every piece in the collection without a doubt of already having events planned in my mind as to where I can rock a Raaah dress or the Mirabelle maxi skirt in a deep plum colour – lusting after this polished label.

Those bold and structured shoulders on a white one piece bodysuit.

 

Modern take on a women's Safari suit called the Heather suit.

Once again, those broad structured shoulders on a shift dress.

Loved the colour and the asymmetrical flow of the Loosen up dress.

Thula Sindi

Special guest of the evening and closing designer on Day 3 was South Africa’s very own Thula Sindi, sponsored by the Cape Town Fashion Council, brought his 27 piece collection to Zimbabwe’s shores. Thula Sindi is a world renowned designer, whose work is not new to any runway, except for Zimbabwe of course. Every piece in Thula’s collection was form fitting, articulate and had an aura of high fashion coming down the runway – there was a piece for every different personality of a woman. From a monochrome giraffe print dress to a bright pink stunner, to short shorts and a maxi long navy blue dress with sequins. Our favourite was a black empire waisted dress made out of lace which was worn by model Tholakele Dlamini.

Our Favourite piece from Thula Sindi

So, with all that encompassed Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2014, this was ST’s favourites which of course gave you an insight of what went down on Day 3 of the event. Although these three designers caught our attention, we still give kudos to all of the designers for their immaculate work and bringing their talent to our attention. And a big round of applause to Priscilla Chigariro and her ZFW Team for producing a smooth show without a single hitch.

All the same I wish to thank everyone who nominated Signature Toscie in the category of Blogger of the year, alongside Zim Fashionista, Zim Fashion Diary and Kicking It with Mimi. Means the world that you guys read ST and my personal fashion adventures. So I thank you!

Stay Gorgeous,

Tendai Sophia

*All photos courtesy of SDR Photo*