Breaking stereotypes in fashion  

The All Shades of Beautiful Fashion Show, which made its debut last year returns next month at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre. The unique fashion show involves designers, models and other service providers with various disabilities. As preparations for the second edition are in motion, our arts editor EDITH GONDWE caught up with Xandria, owner of the event’s organisers Xandria House of Fashion, for details:

Q

: First tell us more about this year’s All Shades of Beautiful Fashion Show?

A

: So, this year the unique All Shades of Beautiful Fashion Show is back. But we have added some elements to make it more exciting. The key thing is the introduction of a competition called Design Genius for up-and-coming designers. The competition is open to designers with disabilities and those without. The aim is to help them improve and of course equip them with knowledge on entrepreneurship skills.

Q

: What is the theme for this year’s fashion show?

A

: So, the fashion show this year has three themes which are adoptive fashion, sustainable fashion and Malawian traditional fashion. On adoptive fashion, we are looking at clothing designed around the needs and abilities of people with varying degrees of disability. Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed and used in environmentally friendly ways while Malawian traditional fashion is the type of clothing designed around Malawi’s ethnic groups.

Q

: What are the key objectives of this year’s fashion show?

A

: We want to do our part to establish up-and-coming brands and generate funding and build powerful connections. We also want to work towards a more significant equity, inclusion and opportunity future. The fashion show also want to make adaptive fashion become a norm in Malawi. As organisers we are want to allow young talents to show what they are capable of in front of public and professional jury. By the end of the day we want to give hidden talents a spotlight.

Q

: What else will take place this year that was never there in the past?

A

: I think basically apart from the designers’ competition, we are introducing the children’s segment where designers will showcase children’s clothing in various beautiful designs. Also this year, we will have models both with disabilities and those without to work together for the promotion of fashion.

Q

: At the moment, what is happening in your preparations?

A

: We are still putting our resources together. We are also still taking applications from designers. Once we get enough applications we will shortlist the chosen ones and come up with a list of participating designers.

Q

: After the designers competition, what will be the benefits of the winning designers?

A

: They will undergo training for two to three weeks. We will organise business coaching seminars for them and give them materials such as fabrics to boost their designing business.           

Q

: Finally, do you have any added information?

A

: We just want to build from the gains we made last year to make Malawians and all fashion lovers that fashion sees no boundaries. We want to make fashion part of our everyday life.n