Fashion & Pageants
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A WHOLE NEW KIND OF ECO BY SABINA MUTSVATI
SABINA SIBONGILE
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TRIBAL FUNK BY BLACK TRASH
t had an ethno vibe, but with a raw edge that makes “tribal” a more appropriate word to describe Black Trash’s collection as shown at Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2012. It was a little scary even. We’re talking exaggerated, pointy shoulders, earth tones with shots of moss green and black and a warrior-esque aesthetic. And, well…it was all kind of cool. These looks are what they might have worn in the Amazon jungle a few centuries back, if they’d listened to punk rock. Raw, edgy and “just try it” are written all over these clothes, and it’s a look that the emancipated party-chick of 2012 would totally go for. The tribal rock-star edge was perfectly balanced with unmistakably feminine silhouettes, and pompadour hairstyling and grungy makeup complemented the runway strut. It’s all a little moody but a whole lot sexy at the same time, with above-the-knee hemlines and a sassy kind of cool – looks that unmistakably say “I run things here”. This Spring we’re seeing a lot of this strong aesthetic, in masculine cuts and aggressive detail. It’s a welcome repose from pretty florals and swirly dresses, and it makes us want to party. See you on Saturday night??
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f you’ve ever wondered about the term “eco-warrior”, we now know what it means - or at least what she’d wear. Fashion designer Sabina Mutsvati made an ecological statement in couture at Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2012, in a big way. We’re talking of plastic bottles caught up in tulle skirts cruising down the runway, all the models in bare feet; plumes of dry African grasses artfully positioned on the back end of architectural skirts, and rising above shoulders. It’s art in the form of fashion. While not exactly wearable… to the trained fashion eye, if you look beyond the artistic eco-statement, you see well-constructed garments, high-quality workmanship and a drape-y one-shoulder neckline that we kind of love. We’d like to see this collection translated into every day styles and we’re crossing our fingers for a ready-to-wear collection. In the meantime, we’re picking up the message here: reuse, reduce, recycle, and keep it green; something we’re going to keep in mind. ?
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FEATHERS BY SIBONGILE CHIMANIKIRE
ou’ve got to be a brave woman to wear feathers at the best of times, but Sibongile Chimanikire’s collection as shown at Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2012 has the word “brave” written all over it. Feathered epaulets and deepsea blue feathered skirts were sent down the runway, not to mention a plumedand-plunging neckline or two. Fiercely teased and tousled hairstyling added to the general air of drama, as did the almost monochromatic colour palette – we saw an awful lot of black! This is night-time fashion for the woman who’s unafraid to speak through her fashion. Leather and satin added a sheen to this collection that upped its glam factor, while the feathers kept it funky. There was a definite feminine silhouette maintained throughout the collection, which is what we like to see – women that actually look like women – albeit a much stronger feminine from Sibongile. You can’t hide in these clothes, but they certainly weren’t meant for the woman who doesn’t want to make a statement.?
2012 in retrospect
f a s h i o n w e e k
February 2013 Page 77
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