The Sunday Mail
Society Reporter
Fashion Council of Zimbabwe (FCoZ) has announced the launch of Wear Zimbabwe campaign to encourage Zimbabweans to buy locally designed clothes.
Dubbed the #WEARZIM campaign, the initiative is meant to promote local designers by boosting demand for their products.
FCoZ, which was registered in 2020, represents interests of fashion creatives, among them designers of apparel and accessories, fashion bloggers and fashion editors.
Make-up artists, tailors, models, fashion photographers and graphic artists are also among professionals whose interests are being taken care of by the council.
Modelling agencies are also registered.
As part of the nationwide campaign, Zimbabweans are being encouraged to wear locally designed clothes every Friday.
Paidemoyo Chideya, FCoZ director, exhorted Zimbabweans to support locally designed apparel.
“In the past, Western luxury brands were once the ultimate dream. There are, however, so many reasons why we should support Zimbabwean brands, especially as we are grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Wearing local clothes is not just for the benefit of those that are in that particular business. There are so many downstream benefits that the country will enjoy if we support this important sector,” she said.
“This is a good initiative and deserves to be supported. “If you notice, most countries in Africa have distinct dress patterns that reflect their identities. Apart from saving money from imports, the move will help revive our textiles industry, which is under siege from foreign products.”
An almost similar campaign, which was also dubbed Wear Zim, was launched in 2017 by fashion designer Joyce Chimanye.
