The Sunday Mail
Youth Buzz
Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
AT the recent ZANU PF Congress, the ruling party’s members, including those at the top of the hierarchy, were resplendent in swanky regalia that brought colour to the event and captured the imagination of many.
Behind the different shades of captivating attire worn by ZANU PF comrades is a youth, who has carved her name in the fashion industry.
Faith Taruvinga, the marketing and logistics manager of House of Cheneso, is setting new trends in the fashion industry due to her ability to produce enchanting designs that are able to capture the ruling party’s historical minutiae, while remaining in vogue with modern trends.
She explained that coming up with some of the designs for the ruling party’s attire is no easy task, as she has to spend several hours preparing for the final product.
“I believe my gift of creativity runs in the blood. I do not work alone but we work as a team with colleagues at House of Cheneso. Our stable is the brainchild of the party’s leadership,” she said.
One of her most creative designs that turned heads was the unique regalia donned by ZANU PF members at the inaugural ZANU PF War Veterans League Conference held in Harare as a build-up to the congress.
The revolutionary regalia represented the modernisation and romanticisation of the freedom fighters’ attire during the liberation struggle.
“It took me two days to watch videos of the war of liberation from which the designs were inspired. This was not an easy feat as some of the videos were not clear due to the time and circumstances under which they were shot. In addition to that, I had to sit down with ZANU PF War Veterans League Secretary, Cde Douglas Mahiya, for two hours to understand what was expected of me in creating the designs.”
She had to ensure the designs were exactly as the ones worn during the pre-independence era, including the shade of green donned back then.
“I was so nervous to design the regalia, especially given that His Excellency, the President and First Secretary of the party, also had to wear the same regalia. It took almost four hours to get the green that they wanted. I was proud that they liked the design and it is now like a uniform for our war veterans, as they are very excited about the gear and they wear it for party events.”
The war veterans’ attire trended on social media and has become a hit with young people. In addition, it has been embraced by the war veterans.
“As a born-free, this is how I say thank you to our war liberators by reminding them of the dress code they used to wear long back, during the war,” Taruvinga, who is in her thirties, said.
The revolutionary cap is one of the favourite parts of the garb, as war veterans tell her that it reminds them of experiences of the war.
“Some say they used to fold the back part of the cap or remove the clip before rolling it. So, in hot seasons, they would then use it to wipe away sweat.”
With the dynamism that characterises fashion, Taruvinga is always on her toes, following new trends to incorporate new ideas into her work.
“I see myself bringing three factors in my designs: uniqueness, excellence and quality. This is what makes me design the way I do.”
Raised in Murewa, Taruvinga has tried numerous times to make ends meet, but she says she is in the fashion industry to stay, as this is her true calling.
She has travelled the world, exploring how different cultures perceive life, and this contributes to her creative process in designing.
This year, she had the opportunity to participate at the Italy Taormina International Fashion Show as the country’s representative.
“My plans are to open an academy, where I will share knowledge with the youth on how they can earn a living through fashion and become entrepreneurs in the industry.”
◆ Twitter: @BullaFatima
