The Sunday Mail
IF you thought fashion is associated with beautiful things, then think again. Top models, sports starts, actors, musicians and other popular figures are constantly used by designers to market various fashion items.
And of note is the fact that most, if not all are either handsome or beautiful. Certainly in the fashion world, one’s beauty helps improve the appeal of the product being advertised.
But a local visual artiste and fashion designer, Petreace Muzerengwe, is breaking barriers. She is making designs that are being marketed by people regardless of their physical attributes.
Already, she has moved to support the Mr Ugly pageant by using former title holder William Masvinu as a shoe model.
Indeed, it is difficult to imagine that “ugly people” can have a place in the fashion world of glitz and glamour, but that is now happening.
Muzerengwe has no plans of stopping her support for the “Mr Ugly” lot. In fact, she believes they blend well with her well-crafted designs that have a bias towards African aesthetics.
The designer notes that every human being or creature created by the Almighty is unique. Thus, it is that uniqueness she intends to help celebrate.
“I stand for originality in everything I do or create. A designer is a creator and a trendsetter thus I’m always looking for fresh ideas and concepts to add to the industry rather than always imitating,” says Muzerengwe.
“People are more receptive to originality as it is the sure formula to international success, which is my ultimate goal. The crowd that watched Mr Ugly walk down the runway at the fashion showcase were just ecstatic and cheered him on.”
Perhaps the visual artiste and fashion designer’s profile explains why she is eager to traverse untapped territories.
She developed an interest in creating clothing at a tender age. At age 12 she had won numerous sewing competitions both at school and in other public functions. And the success keeps rolling.
Muzerengwe was recently selected among the top three designers in the proudly Zimbabwean online store, Zedlabel Fashion Challenge, for sustainable fashion. After completion of her degree in Fashion in 2012, she launched her self-named brand, Petreace.
Petreace makes clothing, accessories and jewellery for a broad spectrum of clientele that includes corporates and the general public. The brand fuses indigenous culture and inspiration from nature, for example, the Tonga Mulonga Fashion show which gave homage to BaTonga basketry.
Muzerengwe is heavily inspired by Zimbabwean world famous artiste, Tapfuma Gutsa, who is also her mentor. But just like any other artiste, she is equally affected by the prevailing economic challenges.
“My clients appreciate the quality of my work; however, due to the economy they are spending less on luxury items.”
She adds that alternative cheap but inferior imports worsen their predicament. But despite all the challenges, the fashion designer believes the country has vast opportunities for hardworking individuals. The budding designer employs a number of female tailors including sales representatives.
“All supposed negative situations can be changed for the better. Complaining does not help solve anything. Instead we should just work hard in our respective fields, that way we will play our part in turning around the economy,” says Muzerengwe.
Her work attracts clients from as far as West Africa, Europe and North America.
