The curtain to the South African Menswear Week 2018 came down recently and Zimbabwe was fully represented at the show, which is the only stand-alone menswear week in Africa.
Local prominent designers such as Kidd Hunta and Ara Kani showcased their collections at the event, while fashion and design guru Gilmore Tee was among the five panellists who took part at the Business of Fashion in Africa — a fashion discussion platform that ran concurrently with the South African Menswear Week 2018.
On the runway, six Zimbabwean male models were in action and the fashion world should be on the lookout for the young models who rocked the fashion show.
The Standard Style showcases six of the models that took part at the South African Menswear Week 2018.
Lungani Mkwebu
Lungani Mkwebu is one of the most sought-after male models in Zimbabwe.
The 26-year-old Bulawayo-born model is an architect by profession and does modelling on a part-time basis.
Five years back, he joined AM Model Management where his journey as a professional model started.
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“Modelling was never in the pipeline.
I was literally dragged to join a modelling agency by my friends who kept telling me that I had the looks and potential to make it,” he said.
Ever since then, Mkwebu has done a lot of runway and commercial modelling.
He has featured on platforms such as the Matabeleland Fashion Week, Intwasa Fashion Show, iFashion Fest, Durban Fashion Fair, Hifa Fashion Show, John Ablaza — Zimbabwean Culture and Couture Night and South African Menswear Week.
He recently featured on Vogue Italia, Canadian Intelegance magazine and South Africa’s Expresso Show.
Tichaona Maruziva
Popularly known as a television host on ZTV Coke on the Beat, 28-year-old Tichaona “Tich” Maruziva has modelled for Zimbabwe Fashion Week, Edgars Club Magazine, Filipino Designer, John Ablaza, Hifa and recently South African Menswear Week.
The free-spirited Harare-born presenter, model and voice over artiste said he felt proud when his fellow Zimbabwean brothers and him took the centre stage at such a huge platform such as South African Menswear Week.
“Seeing my brothers in interviews, getting stopped for photos, answering questions and low-key eavesdropping on conversations about us models and the designers, brought so much pride to my being Zimbabwean,” he said.
“I also had the pleasure of meeting with Chu Chusawannapah of Chulaap, Augustine, Unknown Union and Sol Sol, Good Good and ALC Man, some of the top designers from the continent.”
Jimmy Mhlanga
Twenty-two year-old Mhlanga is the last born in a family of three children raised by a single mother.
He went to Henry Low Primary and Gifford High schools in Bulawayo.
Mhlanga is a sportsperson who has played cricket for Tuskers and is also involved in basketball.
“Born without anything, I was taught to chase whatever I need in life, work hard for that which matters the most and to always pray until something happens.
I’ve since nurtured and tattooed that into me,” he said.
He said modelling was never in his mind until two years ago when one of his aunts encouraged him to try it.
He was groomed by Amanda Mutangadura, one of Zimbabwe’s top scouts. Mhlanga recently modelled at the South African Menswear Week for brands such as Chu Suwannapha, Ara Kani, Kidd Hunta and League of Rebels.
Shadel Noble
Twenty-four-year-old Shadel Noble started off as a basketball player, which is his forte and later went on to pursue a career in modelling, that was ignited by beavers and strangers who always questioned if he was a professional model.
Three years back, he joined Fingers Modelling Academy in Bulawayo where he was groomed and mentored by actress/Mother of all Models, Sarah Mpofu-Sibanda.
In his three years of modelling, Noble has won the Best Model of the Year award at the Matabeleland Fashion Week 2015, Outstanding Model of the Year award at the Bulawayo Arts Awards 2017, Best International Model of The Year at the Zambia Fashion Awards 2017, Best Runway Male Model at Model of the Year Zimbabwe, People’s Choice Award and Brand Ambassador of the Zimbabwe Models Awards.
“I have also been blessed to model both locally and internationally.
I have featured at Ekuhulureni Fashion Festival in South Africa, Swaziland Fashion Week, Botswana Fashion Without Borders, Lexus SA Menswear Fashion Week and South Africa’s Menswear Fashion Week in Cape Town, just to mention a few,” he said.
Mazisi Nigel Ncube
