Since its inception in 2020, local creative art, design and event platform Skeyi & Strobo (SS) has been generating momentum that has evolved the local street culture through its SS Fabrik Party events.
Throughout its eight editions, there has been a surge in participants and attendees, with each event attracting a diverse mix of collaborators in the fashion, music, media, fashion designing and creative art spaces.
Skeyi & Strobo is a derivative of the oxen yoke, a commonly used tool in Zimbabwe, whose etymology can be traced to the South African Dutch words skei (shoulder yoke for cattle) and strop (twisted string made from softened cowhide).
In March last year, the platform introduced the Fabrik Party pop-up store during its seventh edition. The pop-up store is responsible for curating local underground street wear.
In October, the SS ambition skyrocketed with the “Fabrikans Convention”, a three-day urban culture extravaganza hosted at Alliance Francaise de Harare. The event birthed the Designers Marathon and City2City Activations, putting creatives from Gweru, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Chinhoyi into the spotlight.
In a recent announcement, SS unveiled plans to launch a pop-up street wear, fashion, music and art market called the Skeyi & Strobo Central Business Market or simply CBD Market.
This six-month initiative, kicking off January 19 at the First Floor Gallery Harare, located at Karigamombe Centre, promises a dedicated space for creatives to meet, network and trade every Friday until June 28.
However, beyond fostering incubation and networking space for creatives within the subcultures, organisers envision the “CBD Market” as a launch pad for street wear fashion, street art and alternative music.
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“Skeyi & Strobo is now launching the CBD Market intending to cultivate a sustainable ecosystem for fashion designers, stylists, photographers, sound artists, street artists, content creators and more,” read a statement released this week.
Every Friday, the scheduled pop-up events aim to attract between 60 and 100 people and will feature up to 20 stalls.
Founder Ulenni OkaNdlovu told IndependentXtra that the weekly events are free.
“The CBD Market is a space where creative minds can come together, exchange ideas and collaborate without the burden of having to be asked to pay, whether you are an artist, designer, musician or entrepreneur, this is the perfect environment to connect with like-minded individuals and bring your ideas to life,” OkaNdlovu said.
The initiative will allow stakeholders to showcase their work, engage in trade, and expand their networks.
The new space will have a seamless second-hand fashion marketplace where attendees will be able to buy pre-loved clothes and street wear designs.
Organisers also hinted at featuring alternative music as a way of celebrating the rich diversity of Zimbabwe’s sub cultures. There will also be poetry and other performance art.
Besides networking opportunities and the possibilities of co-creating and collaboration, creatives and devout followers of fashion and art enthusiasts can expect to experience a beautiful view overlooking the city from the gallery rooftop and also immerse themselves in art exhibitions inside First Floor Gallery.
Currently, the gallery is showing “Paper Weight”, an exhibition that features the works of visual artists, including Helen Teede, Anne Zanele Mutema, Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude and Simon Back, among others.
