Recently, we read a very disturbing article in the local press (click here for article) which brought to light the controversies surrounding the upcoming Zimbabwe Fashion Week (3-6 September, 2015) and it's sad to hear about what the writer found. In a nutshell, the press levelled the following accusations against the event:
That being said, the main concern here, as we see it, is that such events are meant to be the prime of our collective efforts as players in the Zimbabwe fashion industry. They are meant to be the shining beacon atop the heavens-high mountain of local fashion, looking over the entire landscape, showing everyone the best of what we have, what we work for, what we create, what we call our passions - but instead, we see a dark cloud at the pinnacle of our mountain. True or not, the allegations that have been brought to the event have heavy implications for literally everyone involved in the industry. From the top designer mauling over being associated with an event marred with such allegations, to the small designer coming out of a ZedLabel designer course aspiring to one day climb this mountain in the hopes of finding the light at the top. For the exhibitor weighing up the dollars she will spend in getting a stand at the show versus the possibility that their monies will simply add to the event's budget while they don't get to exhibit as per contract and don't get refunded at all. For the regular fashion lover who wants to come in and catch a show and make dinner afterwards having to cancel plans because of delays. Everyone involved is affected.
We appreciate the fact that to build something like Zimbabwean Fashion Week is no small feat. In a country like ours it is amazing that the event has actually come this far. It is however more saddening to see things like corruption pervading our space. The responsibility of building such a mountain is that the pinnacle must always be shiny, everyone else along the way up works too hard to have it otherwise. We believe that's everyone's responsibility. We build this mountain, we are the mountain.
The obvious flipside is that the local press just needed to sell papers. Which is tragic, but possibly true too. Not knowing much about journalist ethics we would not attempt to give that lecture. But it seems if people close enough to the event or relevant stakeholders are quoted speaking in support of these allegations then the editor gives the green light for print. It would also seem a few Facebook users on different pages relating to fashion in Zimbabwe would sing the same song as these journalists which, again, is a cause of concern.
Whatever the case, it's sad that one of the top events in our industry has been fingered in this light, or darkness rather. We pray our industry remains clean just the way we like it. Let's leave corruption to FIFA. Let's just stick to putting fabric together and making awesome stuff. Our local industry is only on the come-up right now, we definitely don't need such.
- the organisers are corrupt in how they make nominations for awards
- the organisers often use awards to appease creditors in business
- the organisers run their back office like a military camp (whatever that means)
- creditors (even international ones) have resorted to legal action against the event in order to get what they are owed
- "fans" as they were are not particularly impressed with the recurring disorganisation of the event in the years it has run
- top international designers including Farai Simoyi, Nicki Minaj's senior designer have pulled out nervously because of the event's disorganisation
That being said, the main concern here, as we see it, is that such events are meant to be the prime of our collective efforts as players in the Zimbabwe fashion industry. They are meant to be the shining beacon atop the heavens-high mountain of local fashion, looking over the entire landscape, showing everyone the best of what we have, what we work for, what we create, what we call our passions - but instead, we see a dark cloud at the pinnacle of our mountain. True or not, the allegations that have been brought to the event have heavy implications for literally everyone involved in the industry. From the top designer mauling over being associated with an event marred with such allegations, to the small designer coming out of a ZedLabel designer course aspiring to one day climb this mountain in the hopes of finding the light at the top. For the exhibitor weighing up the dollars she will spend in getting a stand at the show versus the possibility that their monies will simply add to the event's budget while they don't get to exhibit as per contract and don't get refunded at all. For the regular fashion lover who wants to come in and catch a show and make dinner afterwards having to cancel plans because of delays. Everyone involved is affected.
We appreciate the fact that to build something like Zimbabwean Fashion Week is no small feat. In a country like ours it is amazing that the event has actually come this far. It is however more saddening to see things like corruption pervading our space. The responsibility of building such a mountain is that the pinnacle must always be shiny, everyone else along the way up works too hard to have it otherwise. We believe that's everyone's responsibility. We build this mountain, we are the mountain.
The obvious flipside is that the local press just needed to sell papers. Which is tragic, but possibly true too. Not knowing much about journalist ethics we would not attempt to give that lecture. But it seems if people close enough to the event or relevant stakeholders are quoted speaking in support of these allegations then the editor gives the green light for print. It would also seem a few Facebook users on different pages relating to fashion in Zimbabwe would sing the same song as these journalists which, again, is a cause of concern.
Whatever the case, it's sad that one of the top events in our industry has been fingered in this light, or darkness rather. We pray our industry remains clean just the way we like it. Let's leave corruption to FIFA. Let's just stick to putting fabric together and making awesome stuff. Our local industry is only on the come-up right now, we definitely don't need such.
