Malawi wakes up from 70-year fashion slumber

For the first time since 1943 when the first fashion week in the world took place, Malawi will hold a fashion week from May 30 to June 3 at Umodzi Park in Lilongwe.

Being organised by Elegant resources and African Dzuwa, the fashion week promises to be one of a kind fashion industry event. It will allow models, fashion designers, brands or clothing shops to display their latest clothing designs and collections.

On the runway, the show promises to be a trendsetter for Malawi style, fashion and local material. The buyers and the media will have an opportunity to take a look at the latest fashion trends. Most importantly, these events let the industry know what is “in” and what is “out” for the season.

According to Dawa Loga-Lemberger of Elegant Resources, it is about time for Malawi to host such a trendsetting event which should have been started years ago.

“I came up with the idea to host the fashion week after a parent came and asked me to mentor their daughter, a designer, in costing, planning events, sketching and the like. Then, I thought why not help other designers do the same too and develop in industry. It also happened that Chikumbutso [Mtumodzi] had been thinking of hosting a fashion week and we came together and put this plan into action,” said Loga-Lemberger.

This weekend, models who registered for the event were auditioned at the Cresta Crossroads Hotel.

Loga-Lemberger said the fashion week will be the start to the edification of fashion designers in Malawi.

“Our goals are to edify each fashion designer so that they are proud of their own designs, and they understand themselves,” she said.

Part of the activities of the fashion week include workshops on costing, use of quality materials and how designers can arrange their own marketing events.

Elsewhere, fashion week happens twice a year in the major fashion capitals of the world: Paris, Milan, New York and LondonFashion weeks are held several months in advance of the season to allow the press and buyers a chance to preview fashion designs for the following season.

So far, local designers that have registered for the event include Lilly Alfonso, Yavinde Nyasulu, Clemoh Sato, Rose Kaleke and Lucy Nkhonjera. International models such as South African model trainer Neetasha Singh and Zambian Amanda Limpic have confirmed their participation.