By Simbarashe Manhango Fashion enthusiasts will be treated to a three-day fashion extravaganza that is set to feature a line-up of South African leading designers. The showcase is pencilled for Harare and runs between August 30 and September 1. Arguably one of Zimbabwe’s biggest fashion events, the event will be held at the VW Showroom along Samora Machel Avenue. The display presents designers with a platform to exchange and share notes on the ever-changing fashion trends. At the same time, it offers fashion fanatics a chance to interface with the designers. In an interview with the Standardlife&style, Priscilla Chigariro, the founder and director of the Fashion Week said she hoped people would take advantage of this platform to acquire knowledge that necessitate numerous developments in the fashion industry. “I hope people will embrace the idea and take advantage of this platform as it is necessary for the growth of the industry,” said Chigariro. “As usual, the display always inspires interest in fashion and there is a lot of networking. “We really need to get to a point where we acquire vast knowledge and understand that there is more to fashion than the display,” she said. South Africa’s accomplished designer,Shaldon Kopman, will also exhibit his works at this edition of the fashion show. According to Wikipedia, he was the recipient of the GQ Best Dressed Men’s Award in 2006. Kopman’s affair with fashion began in 1994 when he worked in New York, Milan and Paris as a fashion director and stylist. He later returned to South Africa in 2006 and took over the coveted position of fashion editor at Elle magazine. Accompanying him is David Tlale one of the most rated stylish designers in South Africa. To date he has registered many accolades and nominations in the fashion industry. In 2008 he was voted the most stylish person at the annual SA Style Awards and won Mzansi’s Star Fashion Designer at the Mzansi Star Awards. The same year he was also nominated at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Awards. His journey in fashion began at the Elle talent competition which is annually hosted in South Africa. Editor of the Elle Magazine Kate Lanphear will also be coming in for a sequence of workshops aimed at developing areas that make-up the fashion week. A comprehensive selection of 22 local designers will make up the galaxy of designers to grace this showcase. The Zimbabwe Fashion Week will be running under the theme “Breaking Barriers in Fashion and Technologies”. Four designers will during the showcase stand a chance to be selected to participate at the Africa Fashion Week in October this year.
