VITENGE NI VATU, a Zambian clothing line on Wednesday opened the 2016 fashion week show at Alliance Francaise in Lusaka.
The show, which ends on Tuesday, saw upcoming designers such as Chikondi Mwanza, Martha Chikumbi, Ruth Chimbala and Annie Kamanga, showcasing their designs for the first time.
In an interview with the Weekend Mail, Vitenge Ni Vatu vice president Precious Ng’oma said the fashion show was aimed at promoting the African fashion by working with upcoming designers in the fashion industry.
“The event has been opened and our main interest is to work with upcoming designers in the fashion industry and it is great to see upcoming Zambian designers showcase their talent,” Precious, who is also model coach for Vitenge Ni Vatu, said.
She said Vitenge Ni Vatu 2016 fashion show, which attracted 18 designers, was aimed at creating a platform where youthful and passionate imminent designers can showcase their God-given talent.
Precious, who is also face brand ambassador, said Vitenge Ni Vatu concept aims at embracing African culture by showcasing African fabrics.
“Anything Zambian bring it on … we love Zambia and we love to work with vitenge. It’s not only about the Zambian arts of fashion, but all things to do with Africa, be it art, music or culture, we just value the authenticity that the African continent has to offer,” Precious said.
She is confident the fashion show will help contribute to the growth of the fashion industry and encourage the community to embrace the African prints.
The 18 designers will be showcasing their designs each night.
Other designers in attendance include Deborah Mulenga, Donaila Mwale, Alai Kunda, Cecilia Njobvu, Miriam Mwamba and Debora Sehela.
Ngoma wants the budding designers to work hard and continue improving their designs.
“In life, we must never remain stagnant, so I would like to see them strive to beat the creativity levels exuded this time around and bring us even more amazing designs in the near future,” she said.
Pictures from the event
(DailyMail)
BY KAPA187
Veru UGLY designs and FACES SHAME TO ALLIANCE FRANCAIS PROMOTING SUCH CHARACTERS
nothing to write home about.
Just my opinion, even if the designs are not to my taste too, I find it too harsh to come out and call someones daughter ugly just like that. Never know what your blessings are going to be like.
Thanks
i appreciate and praise the african entredness effort in this work. Better than showcasing european dolce gabanna and whatever else they may have to offer. Girls are beautiful. no one is better looking than an african woman.
marketing their bodies to men shame!
That’s the way very proud of my country. One day at a time with such determination you will get there. That’s how Victoria secret started getting their cotton from Africa. Africa has so much to offer the world should watch the space.
Chitenge No. 9 and 13 very beautiful and decent.
All those that ape Nigerian cloth get 0% for lack of Zambian traditionally influenced Design and 100% for the rest that have some sort of recognised Zambian patterning, at least they innovate design keeping Zambian. The best is the lady in the Little Bo Peep with frothy petticoats (no.5 SA influence ), for best innovative artistic interpretation on Zambian (really SA) cloth.
I dig the cloth chap at 8 is wearing, shorts and black shirt. It’s playful use of chitenge.
Way to go and it’s about time! However to quote Orson Welles:
“Create your own visual style…let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others”
Terrible designs. Really terrible.
The designs are pathetic, I would advise organisers to choose designers on merit not just because someone knows someone then you give them a job to design then one gets kick backs because they gave them a job. There’s definitely better designers in zambia who would do 10 times better than that rubbish they are parading.
WHERE FASHION IS CONCERNED ZAMBIA SHOULD TAKE A LEAF FROM NIGERIA, GHANA, ETHIOPIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. OTHERWISE I CAN’T SEE ANY CREATIVITY WITH OUR DESIGNERS FROM WHAT I HAVE SO FAR SEEN.
YOU SEE CLOTHING IS PART OF THE NATION’S IDENTITY. WHEN YOU SEE A NIGERIAN WOMAN OR MAN DRESSED UP, YOU WILL DEFINITELY PLACE THEM IN NIGERIA. SAME GOES WITH GHANA, SOUTH AFRICA AND NOT FORGETTING THE CONGOLESE WHO ARE MORE CLOSE TO THE ZAMBIAN WAY OF DRESSING THAN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED. HOW YOU DRESS, SING AND PLAY MUSIC, COOK AND EAT FOOD IDENTIFIES YOU AS A NATION. LOZIS, BEMBAS, ETC HAVE VERY DISTINCT WAYS THEY DRESS UP. A DESIGNER CAN EVEN GO BACK TO IFILUNDU CENTURIES AND BUILD UP A DRESS VOCABULARY FROM THERE. FROM LOZIS ONE CAN BE CREATIVE TO MODERNISE THE WAY LOZIS DO THEIR THING. PLEASE, DESIGNER BE CREATIVE. I LOVE THE KK SIGNATURE AND THANKS TO THE INNOVATOR.