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NEW YORK. — Designer David Tlale (centre) walks with models at the David Tlale fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2014 at The Pavilion at Lincoln Centre on February 9, 2014 in New York City. — (Photo by Frazer Harrison

Tafadzwa Zimoyo : Fashion Talk 263

Happy fashionable weekend folks. Be sure of what you want and be sure about yourself. Fashion is not just beauty, it’s about good attitude and opportunity. You have to believe in yourself and be strong. I remember these words by famous fashionista Adriana Lima after the outrage on social media by some so called fashion designers, stylists and models blasting Edgars Zimbabwe for the summer launch fashion show they are hosting with international fashion designer David Tlale.

I had deep thoughts about it. This is a great move and best-needed in time for empowerment and growth of the fashion industry.

Kudos to you Edgars Zimbabwe, let’s drink to that before the show begins and then drink more after the successful event.

Who knew David Tlale would find time to come not only to showcase but share his experience and designs, let alone being given the priviledge to shop his wares in Edgars.

Gosh can’t wait!!!

Back to the squabbles of needles and stitches over the move by Edgars.

Edgars Zimbabwe this year has turned up the heat “literally” by taking the fashion industry right back to its grass roots — and that’s the design side of the business.

Well for a start, one thing those blasting need to know and understand is that this is a golden opportunity not to miss, by the way positive or negative criticism is needed but have your facts right.

I won’t say names for now but let us unite for one goal.

Some designers and stylists stated that Edgars should have supported local designers rather giving David the exposure.

I beg to differ with that because, for a start, how many designers can stand up the taste to put their garments in boutique, with over 100 same outfits.

We have been attending a lot of fashion shows locally of which the garments made will only be ‘found’, only on ramp. If asked, the designers say I had ONLY made the outfit for the show.

Do more and approach those boutiques and have space.

By the way Edgars Zimbabwe has also given an opportunity to local designers to sell their stuff so the argument that they are left out does not hold water.

Think of Mucha by Tsitsi Mutendi, Zuvva, Dee-Kawze and De Moyo among others who have had an opportunity not only market their wares but sell through Edgars Zimbabwe.

It is about quality and quantity too.

After all we can’t please everybody, open your shop and we see how it rolls.

Fashion is an industry not a sector. It is just like Hollywood industry.

Please be guided that if taken seriously, it can sustain livelihoods.

Again local designers should not shun exposure and stop complaining without giving solutions.

Rome was not built in a day by the way.

Boycotting the show like some had said is a bad idea not for David Tlale but for yourself.

The event is strictly by invite by the way, hence those who are important and respected have already got their invites and seats booked.

It is of no point barking outside the territory when you are not benefiting.

Have you made a name with your product or you are still in grassroots.

Those who are clever enough can maximise the opportunity, who knows David might work with some of you. One thing I know about Zimbabweans is that they are talented and creative but lack opportunity and exposure.

Surprisingly those who are barking have never hosted one successful event and are still struggling to make ends meet.

Remember empty vessels make the most noise.

Another thing to consider is that in the fashion retail supply chain — merchandise is initially designed before it goes into production.

Make sure your commercial product which lands in stores has reasonable pricing and do customers want your product or you just designing for the sake because your grandmother bought you a sewing machine on your birthday?

Try to strike a balance between the trends and volume, the season Must Have’s and basics.

I am saluting the show organisers because David Tlale’s visit will not only reinforce the brand’s dominance in the local fashion retail industry, but will also reinforce the importance of the beginning point in our industry’s supply chain — clothing design.

Tlale is coming through to endorse the Edgars Local Designers Initiative, a Corporate Social Investment programme spanning several years.

He visits Zimbabwe for the very first time this month and will officially launch Summer through a workshop with local designers — talking about taking their designs and brand from the runway into the commercial industry, this workshop will have Tsitsi Mutendi of the Mucha brand as a co-speaker to talk about how to penetrate the Zimbabwean clothing market.

According to Edgars Zimbabwe marketing executive Rumbie Dzimba, Tlale’s visit will not only help in promoting African brands, but create synergies in fashion industry.

“As a business, we identified David Tlale as we were looking for an African designer that has made it in the various quadrants of fashion,” she said.

“Tlale has showcased at various regional and international fashion shows, therefore he understands ‘runway’ fashion, he has sold his product through clothing retailers in South Africa such as Legit. He has exposure on the commercials side of business, he owns his own boutiques and pop up stores in South Africa and the United States, therefore has niche market exposure.

“We were looking for a designer who is on a growth trajectory with his brand. We wanted a designer who would be able to share his or her story with upcoming designers in Zimbabwe and one that local designers could relate to,” she said.

David Tlale, born in South Africa and trained as an auditor, evolved into one of the leading and renowned designers in South Africa and became a fashion designing icon in the early 2000’s.

He first made an impact by winning the SA Fashion Week Elle New Talent Competition and being chosen by the Sunday Times as Best New Designer of the Year, both in 2003.

On Sept 9, 2012, Tlale made history by becoming the first South African to showcase in a stand-alone slot under his own name at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York.

Over the past couple of years, David has showcased in Paris and New York over six times and his latest conquest this 2016 is Milan Fashion Week.

These are big fashion shows that are globally renowned and other designers that showcase there are the likes of Versace, Prada and Fendi.

His work has been described by Mercedes Benz Fashion Week as, ‘both daring and elegant — a brand that defies convention and a brand that impenitently employs unpredictable use and understanding of fabric, color and texture!’

Hope to see you there and don’t forget what is better to come overdressed or underdressed.