Zimpapers Logo

Nkululeko Ncube’s clothing brand “Ara Kani” has been receiving a great deal of international media attention. This comes after the Bulawayo-based fashion designer showcased at the recently held South African Menswear Week Spring/Summer 2016/2017 collections in Cape Town.

The prestigious event takes place twice a year in Cape Town, South Africa. It aims to provide a world-class platform for menswear designers and brands to showcase their latest collections. A series of the best of menswear collections that represent every corner of Africa, from the streets to the youth cultures, the suited men of corporate Africa and beyond is showcased within four days of each season.

Being one of the two Zimbabwean designers among the 40 African menswear designers showcasing at the event, Ara Kani’s head designer, Ncube showcased an all-black master piece. His collection named “Black Rebels” represented what the entire brand is all about, “rebellion against conventions through fashion.”

The collection used ropes to create garments by webbing, a technic popular among Ndebele women who do basketry and weaving. It also included lace and jacket material which brought a rough and street edge to the entire feel.

To complement his collection, Ncube used pro-Black songs by Kanye West and Jay Z, a non-conventional way that many have never seen on the runway.

“With a lot of things going on in Zimbabwe and a lot of down talking and down looking that has been happening around the world towards us as a nation, I felt this was an appropriate platform to chin up and represent my people.

“My collection also told a very strong story of being a young person, with a dream and sometimes not being able to achieve it due to unforeseen challenges. Despite whatever comes your way, you still find ways of making ends meet and develop some rebellion in you,” said Ncube.

Soon after showcasing the brand, Ara Kani was among the most talked about SAMW collections. To date it has received coverage on media platforms such as BET International, Italian Men’s Fashion Trends, Fashion Ghana, ENCA, SABC News, SABC 3’s Expresso Show and Cliff Central, just to mention a few.

Most of the media outlets have been writing their own interpretation of the all black collection and what it represented.

“The beauty of art is that it allows people to find their own definition and also take what they would have felt.

“When I was working on my collection I wanted to create a new voice and allow people to find themselves through my clothes. It’s an honour to inspire people to talk about different social issues through my collection,” said Ncube.

Plans to showcase in other parts of Africa are already underway for Ara Kani. The brand will showcase for the first time in Zimbabwe at this year’s Intwasa Fashion Show. – Zimbojam.