Zambian fashion designers dazzle in local fashion week

Oct 28, 2015 Leading designers in Zambia’s capital recently showcased their vibrant collections at this year’s Zambia Fashion Week. Now in its tenth year, the event attracted over 50 veteran and upcoming designers from within and outside Zambia.

Nadesda Chibanda, an upcoming Zambian designer said the event bore testament to the growth of the fashion industry in Zambia.

“I feel like it’s growing, obviously this year we have showcased over 50 designers and it’s just a sign that we are getting somewhere, a lot of designers are starting to emerge and actually starting to take designing as a passion and not only a passion but also a way of making money and a way of living,”

The fashion industry across Africa has experienced a steady growth in the last decade; however Zambian designers still have a few challenges to circumnavigate.

Abigail Nyienrenda, a participant at the show said:

“I think that the quality of some of the work needs to be improved on. And I think that they do need some support from the government, schools where they can actually learn how make clothes, quality clothes and also just encouragement for people who like retailers who can actually buy and sell their designs either locally or internationally,”

Karen Nakawala, a Fashion Business Analyst, said that revamping the country’s local textile industry is part of the solution that might help designers reach a wider local audience.

“I think at the moment it’s very difficult for the designers to produce anything and sell it at a competitive price in the country because they are competing with clothes that are coming in from China, from India from all over the world that is coming in cheaply, and for them because they have to import the raw materials that they have to use, so obviously then they have to charge a premium,”

According to the organizers of the event, next year’s installment will attract more designers and create the kind of buzz that surrounds high end fashion events.