‘Vibing with Chitenje’

On Friday, the United Kingdom (UK) High Commissioner Fiona Ritchie was all smiles when she donned the locally made chitenje jacket.

Exhilarated by the beautiful local touch of chitenje, Ritchie took it to the official Facebook page of UK in Malawi to applaud and celebrate her attire.

The happy-looking envoy posted on Friday:

“Enjoying my new locally-made chitenje jacket as I head out to deliver the keynote speech at the CEOs Summit.”

The post generated positive feedback from the followers who celebrated the High Commissioner for donning the beautiful local fashion outfit.

The followers also praised chitenje as one of the unique and beautiful fabrics which promotes Malawian and African culture and fashion.

The UK High Commissioner’s pleasant Friday outlook complemented the Buy Malawi Strategy and government’s policy which encourages civil servants to wear locally produced smart casual.

Since the government declared Friday as the day Malawians are supposed to clad locally made outfits. The policy has been championed by President Lazarus Chakwera and senior government officials who often wear local fashion designs.

During this year’s Tourism Expo, Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule described local fashion as one of the key drivers of the tourism industry in Malawi. She pointed out that locally made clothes such as chitenje attract tourists.

Malawi’s top fashionistas say chitenje remains a unique and reliable source of great fashion in Malawi, and Africa, as a whole.

Designer Lilly Alfonso said chitenje brings about a true African feeling when it is worn by people of different cultural backgrounds, including Europeans.

Award-winning fashion designer Roy View Banda said political will is key to translating the dream of promoting local products into reality. He said the more the government embraces the Buy Malawi Strategy, the more local products will attract endorsement and market.

He described chitenje as one of the eccentric and exclusive fabrics which carries a Malawian and African identity and unique fashion sense.

“I think chitenje fabric is a true reflection of African fashion. It represents Africa. It is unique and authentic and it has been there for a long time.

Now it is being loved even outside Africa and this tells you how beautiful and unique it is,” said Banda.

He said chitenje fabric is unique in the sense that it stands out and also it is made with beauty (its flowers and patterns) unlike other fabrics.

Banda’s Roy View Designs has collections of chitenje called Kamuzu and Manyasa outfits which depict Malawian culture.

According to Hlupekire Chirwa, who is a fashion entrepreneur and director of Tatenda Clothing, chitenje fabric is a vibrant, colourful piece of cloth that offers comfort and blends well with seasons.

“What makes the chitenje unique is the representation of nature art and emotions in its colours and print. And the fact that it can be used in so many different ways without breaking any rules of fabric use,” she said.

Chitenje is traditionally used for many other functions especially among women in Malawi and Africa in general including just wrapping a piece around the waist.