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RuTendo DeNise and Sabina Mutsvati

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
Local designer Sabina Mutsvati of Cheukwa Clothing and plus size model RuTendo DeNise will be making their debut at East Africa’s premium fashion event – Swahili Fashion Week 2014 – this Friday at the Sea Cliff Hotel in Dares Salaam, Tanzania.

An avant garde designer who studied Fine Arts at Harare Polytechnic College, Mutsvati has showcased at numerous fashion events throughout Zimbabwe, most notably the Zimbabwe Fashion Week, Fashion Weekend Zimbabwe, The Castle Tankard, Cottco Fashion Show and the Vasikana Vedu Exhibition and HIFAshion at Harare International Festival of the Arts.

Her unique, yet distinct and signature style of statement pieces and designs resulted in her heading costume design for the opening nights of HIFA 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Beyond the borders of Zimbabwe, Mutsvati has also showcased at Zambia Fashion Week and Caribbean Fashion Week (Jamaica) respectively.

Mutsvati’s designs, a witty combination of provocative and eclectic, conscious and dramatic, all make for her signature and distinct creations. Her collections vary both in inspiration and execution with Mutsvati imprinting bold statements in her craft like her Bread Dress, where she used 30 loaves of toasted bread to make a dress.

She also made a dress out of female condoms to highlight the importance and significance of sexual education within and throughout the community.

Her 2012 collection showcased at Zimbabwe Fashion Week was inspired by recycling incorporated the use of recycled materials including grass brooms, bottles and plastic.

The designer also made a few political statements with the incorporation of fresh leaves and empty soda bottles in some of the designs – indicating her fashion consciousness and sensitivity to issues affecting the world.

On describing the inspiration and creative processes behind her work, Mutsvati asserts:

“My five senses are the oasis of my creativity. They are my single biggest source of my creativity as long as I can see, feel, touch, smell or hear I can create. I use my clothes as a painter would use canvas to tell a story. Like a painter I like to educate, entertain, comment on the things or issues that are ongoing in my society,” she said.

She said she prefers working with recycled materials because they have a history already but when you take those things out of their normal context and use them for something else it tells a different story,” she said.

RuTendo DeNise “The Towering Goddess” made national history by becoming the first full-figured model to grace a local fashion runway at Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2014 closing for Durban- based TZM Fashion House and opening for celebrated Tanzanian designer Mustafa Hassanali. Most recently, she opened Hassanali at the recently held Zambia Fashion Week in Lusaka.