IN a rare exhibition of designs, Gloria Rudorwashe Nyajeka, a final year clothing and fashion design student at Chinhoyi University of Technology, is getting up-close and personal with male condoms, which she is using in her fashion design project.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Her boldness goes beyond being open about using condoms as art and she said she would actually wear these outfits in public.
Speaking to NewsDay, Nyajeka said she is using fashion to solve a societal problem through her project topic, Raising Awareness on the Use of Condoms Through Fashion.
“Fashion is a medium of communication. I noticed that a lot has been done through different types of media to encourage people to use condoms, for example, pamphlets, magazines and workshops. But nothing much in Zimbabwe’s fashion industry has been done in order to encourage people to use condoms, hence, I came up with such an idea to use condoms in my designs,” the 22-year-old said.
“These days there are a lot of extramarital affairs and early engagement in sexual activities by youths, so I felt I could make a difference by using fashion to raise awareness and significance of condom use.”
Nyajeka said she was seeking to break barriers and promote the use of condoms.
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“I did not cover the whole garment, as I felt if I design something that is going to be covered by condoms all over, people might not see the condoms and the design will become a mess,” she said.
Nyajeka said she used expired condoms she got from Chinhoyi University Clinic and others she bought.
“The sewing part is very hectic, as the condoms are oily and slippery and difficult to sew.
At first I had problems dealing with the scent, but now I am super cool working with condoms,” she said.
Nyajeka said on her next designs, she will be using the female condom, which she said is less popular and not commonly used.
