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THE forgotten winner of Zimbabwe Sun Super Model in 2000, Priscilla Chigariro (pictured right) has launched a comeback onto the local scene through the Zimbabwe Fashion Week, a clothing showcase for local designers.
The inaugural edition of the showcase, which has been dubbed Autumn Winter 2011, will be held in Harare over four days at the end of July.
“In fashion design, we always go ahead of everyone else in terms of trends,” said Chigariro, who is now based in South Africa.
“We always predict what tastes and trends would be like in the coming years.
“So this year’s show will be showcasing what we believe will be fashion trends in 2011 and beyond.”
In order to give an international flavour to the event, Chigariro has engaged Zimbabwean designers based in London and Johannesburg, which foreign cities host the largest communities of Zimbabweans.
She unveiled the event in Johannesburg on November 26 last year, and another launch is scheduled for London later this month.
The former catwalk queen said fashion trends in Zimbabwe have been static for some time, and there was need to expose designers to what is happening on the international scene.
“Trends in Zimbabwe have not changed for more than 10 years. The only influence we have had is mostly from South Africa.
“Someone just goes into Mr Price, Jet or any one of those shops, and buys whatever is there, and it becomes trendy,” Chigariro said.
As part of the four-day showcase, a competition will be held for young designers, and the winners will get a chance to spend a year in South Africa.
However, Chigariro pointed out that there would be no prizes for participants in the showcase.
She said they hope the publication of the participants on the Zimbabwe Fashion Week website would give the designers more international exposure.
Chigariro was crowned winner of the Super Model pageant in 2000 earning her a ticket to participate in the Face of Africa contest.
Since then, she has been to different places in France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, where she featured in some of the world’s leading magazines.
BY OUR STAFF
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