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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE Intwasa Fashion Show has roped in plus size models to strut their stuff at a show scheduled for Hope Centre as part of the Intwasa Extra on Saturday. Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo for the first time this year introduced a fringe festival that will feature some of the popular shows showcased in September.

This year’s edition of the spring festival ran from September 23 to 27, under the theme, Unforgettable.

Intwasa last week featured the popular historical theatre play, Mbiko kaMadlenya and The Comedy Night at the Bulawayo Theatre.

The fashion show that will celebrate the city’s 120 years will feature 12 top local designers. The designers will showcase 10 garments each from their 2015 collections.

Designers set to participate in the event include up-and-coming artists Lorraine Fusiren; Sam Lui by Humphrey Sarimu — who was part of the Zimbabwe Fashion Week young talents, Crox Designs winner of Clothing Indaba’ Ganu Creations who recently showcased her line at the Sadc Fashion Week, Shadow by Sidumiso who showcased at the Durban Fashion Fair, Ara Kani who won best male designer at the recently launched Matabeleland Fashion Week and Harare-based guest designer Tapfumaneyi Munenge.

Show organiser Gilmore Tee Moyo said socialites such as curvaceous actress Eve Mwatse and others were being used as models to cater for women of different shapes and sizes.

“We recruited different sets of models from the professional models to the plus size models so as to break the norm of targeting one type of women because everyone is a fashionasta and it also helps designers widen their customer base,” he said.

Moyo said they had partnered with clothing store Edgars as part of measures to help local designers with quality control of their products.

“This year we’ve partnered with Edgars who have agreed to offer two designers a six-month to one year attachment as a way of supporting local designers to reach their full potential,” he said.

Moyo said the event came at a time when Bulawayo is celebrating its 120th anniversary as a city and would also be used to grow fashion in the city.

“We’re going to be celebrating our city’s anniversary through this fashion show and at the same time showcase our beautiful designers’ collections,” he said.

The Intwasa Fashion Show is a collaboration between Hunnar Management Agency and Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo. The show is supported by Edgars Stores Zimbabwe and the Alliance Française de Bulawayo.