IN a country where fashion design is at its peak and recognition of art and expression is now felt and understood, creatives have organised events to acknowledge fashionistas this year.
Skeyi and Strobo Fabrik Party in collaboration with Dark Art Matter/s and Kaos will be hosting their 10th edition, with this year’s event running under the theme A Trip to the Asylum ( A TTTA) Fall Winter Collection.
The event will kick-off in Bulawayo on August 10.
In an interview with NewsDay Life & Style, Skeyi and Strobo Creative director Ulenni Okandlovu said this year’s showcase would focus on a Bulawayo-based artist and designer Nobunaga, whose brand name is SEX SOUNDS.
Okandlovu said the event would include musicians and visual artists who were big on subculture.
He acknowledged that the event allows up-and-coming artists to showcase their talents.
Okandlovu said fashion enthusiasts could expect to see different styles like avant garde, street wear and a lot of conceptual stuff.
“It is an open event with limited space, no VIPs, no ranks or social status is prioritised. All our community members are influencers in their own field. But we are open for everyone who wants to tap into the space, they can come through,” he said.
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Okandlovu said Fabrik Party was a creatives and artists movement that represented creatives and their work in the subcultures that never got the spotlight in mainstream media.
“Fabrik Party is not just a fashion show. It is an art and design event that was launched in 2020. Fashion happens to be the most prominent thing that people see on pictures, but there is more from visual art exhibition, street art, alternative music, film, photography, skating, talks and more,” he said.
Okandlovu said the platform helped to revive the local fashion industry and created more traction and financial value for street designers, slowly bridging it to mainstream culture.
“We have worked with international and regional platforms on showcasing local street wear. We are glad that we have also inspired a lot of local people and platforms to tap into local street wear with big platforms like the Zimbabwe Fashion Week,” he said.
“On their second year of return, they have already found a fertile ground from what we have been doing and they are coming through with their programmes, which is good growth.”
Designer Nobunaga said viewers could expect a mind-bending experience which would awaken and satisfy the five basic senses.
“We live in a time where people have forgotten how to experience life and create memories without technology and its counterparts,” he said.
“A large portion of technology users spends a lot of time glued to the screen wishing for a life which they could experience if they step out into the real world.
“Besides the event being headlined and centred around the presentation of a new Fall Winter 24 collection titled ATTTA, there will also be a performance art exhibit and interactive activities on site.”
Nobunaga said to improve the fortunes of the fashion industry, stores should stock local wear instead of imports.
“Through this, fashion houses and brands will focus on making clothes of a much higher quality as they know there is a ready market to purchase them. At the present moment, many fear using a lot of money in making their projects, which have low returns or even huge losses after failing to make sales,” Nobunaga said.
“Other than this, subsidised packages in the form of start-up loans, reduced electrical charges like businesses sited in industrial areas and competitions which have a financial incentive that help to kick start a business.
“Lastly, the most effective way for the industry to move forward is to have award ceremonies based on fashion and its different facets. As of the back end of 2022, some artists have begun taking in the youth as stylists for music videos, wearing some local brands and putting the said artists in their circles.”
He added: “This shows the possibility of what could be if there were awards which would force local designers and brands to constantly challenge themselves to evolve and put out new work as an award is a testament to the work and talent put out by someone.”
