Rachel Mugoni, a creative artist and environmentalist known as Vintage Rae, seamlessly blends craft and environmentalism in her work.
Driven by a passion for fashion and a desire for a plastic-free future, she creates both new outfits from old clothes and decorative pieces from recycled plastic materials.
In an interview with Standard Style, Mugoni explained that her love for fashion, nurtured by her mother's creative influence (particularly her mastery of crocheting), served as the initial spark for her artistic journey.
"I started taking creative design seriously in 2012, before enrolling at Chinhoyi University of Technology for a degree in creative design. Having not much to do one day when Covid-19 hit, I just thought of recycling a pair of matchboxes into earrings and posted them on my social media for fun."
"The response I received was overwhelming, and I never stopped recycling materials and making garments. Recycling became a way of life for me," Mugoni told Standard Style.
She explained that what makes her different as a designer is that she uses unexpected materials to create beautiful craft. The matchbox earrings were where it all started, and her recent art piece was a Santa doll for Christmas decoration, something different from what she usually does.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Mugoni's goal is to become an art tutor, professionally sharing her skills. Besides being a creative artist, she is also a body positivity activist.
Rae mentioned Zahara as a fashion inspiration, specifically her dressing style. The skirt she made from plastic can be worn at fashion events or for fun.