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Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business Reporter
BULAWAYO’s up-and-coming fashion designers have been urged to tap into the rich culture of the city to design products that portray the city’s cultural diversity.

Netherlands-based Zimbabwean, Eglet Mtengwa Nyabvure, a self-made fashion designer and Pfeka Fashion House founder, said by leveraging cultural diversity, the designers will create a niche market for their products.

Nyabvure is attending a week-long Clothing Sector Brand Building Initiative (BBI) programme and masterclass event for designers in Bulawayo organised by ZimTrade.

BBI is a one-year programme that aims to equip aspiring local fashion brands, designers and creatives with knowledge, support and guides on growing their brands to international standards.

The programme’s objective is to increase the number of clothing brands that can be exported.

Nyabvure said Bulawayo designers should fully exploit the cultural richness of the city and infuse it in their products.

“For Bulawayo designers, there is a lot of detail in culture, so what we need to do is to tell our own Bulawayo story through our designs. The designers need to showcase the uniqueness of Bulawayo through their designs,” she said.

Nyabvure said the future of fashion design is in the youths who should take advantage of technology.

She however, bemoaned lack of funding and networking limitations which she said hinder the growth of young designers.

“ZimTrade’s BBI is a good start and there is a need to keep the contacts and grow the network for the benefit of young designers. ZimTrade should therefore continue to create these platforms and opportunities,” said Nyabvure.

ZimTrade

She said designers need to network with experts that have been in the industry for a long time in order to penetrate the international markets.

She also emphasised the importance of technology and the use of social media platforms to market local brands.

Designers attending the event have applauded Zimtrade for bringing experts who have imparted valuable trade knowledge.

They said because of the information provided by these experts, they now know what the international markets expect.

Sithandazile Masikati from The Boss Baby said the programme has broadened their horizon and she looks forward to exporting some of their products.

“This programme gives us an opportunity to meet successful designers and learn industrial concepts which will assist us to grow our brands and be able to export,” said Masikati.

She said now they appreciate the importance of being innovative and creative in order to produce products that appeal to the international markets.

“We appreciate what ZimTrade is doing and we hope these capacity-building programmes will be spread across the country so that we can have strong brands which can represent Zimbabwe internationally,” said Masikati.

A marketing officer from Urban Wear, Mr Mqondisi Mazinyane said such events give them exposure to international markets.

“ZimTrade is doing its best in capacitating start-ups and small businesses. Last week we were in another workshop which was speaking to the export management,” said Mr Mazinyane. — @SikhulekelaniM1