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Colin Ratisai

Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
Zimbabwe Fashion Week has started its Young Designers Developmental Programme on a high note with rising fashion designer Colin Ratisai as the mentor for the emerging designers.

The programme that started yesterday will see Ratisai imparting his expertise in the month-long programme ahead of the fashion fiesta scheduled for September 3 to 6.

As is now the norm, the training workshop that is the precursor to the ZFW founded in 2012 by Priscilla Chigariro-Gessen takes 10 aspiring designers.

“In this month the aspiring young designers have theory and practical lessons from the best the fashion industry offers,” said Chigariro-Gessen. She said some of the classes would include lessons on sketching, the fashion history and factory visits to textile industries. She added that the initiative was meant to educate the designers on the ropes in the fashion industry especially when operating under unfavourable economic conditions.

Besides survival skills the programme would equip students so that they make clothes that are competitive with the latest fashion trends. “(They are taught on) now how to market their brands and the business structure of the fashion industry. At the end of the programme the young designers showcase two garments each at fashion week on Thursday September 3,” she said. The programme is open for aspiring designers aged between 18 and 35.

Applicants are encouraged to send their sketches that will in turn be judged by the programme’s mentor. The ZFW founder also highlighted some of the programme’s success stories.

She said they pride themselves with setting up fashion business and marketing classes for emerging designers from different parts of the country. Ratisai himself is a product of the young designers programme together with other top names in local fashion such as Joanne Ross Wells.

“The programme addresses industry gaps such as the lack of young designers making clothes for the younger market, mostly 16-23 years,” said Chigariro-Gessen. This year’s students will be the highlight when they will be unveiled during the ZFW opening cocktail party on September 2. They will then showcase their designs the following day and the Young Designer of the year will be announced at the Zimbabwe Fashion Awards that will be held on September 6.