Fashion Blogger To Debut At Lilongwe International Fashion Week 2017

If there was any doubt that fashion blogging in Zimbabwe was not up to the level of other countries, blogger Robin Chaibva proves that the heights are being scaled and Zimbabwe is coming of age.

The award winning blogger and social media professional is off to Malawi for the 2nd edition of the annual Lilongwe International Fashion Week LIFW event this Saturday, 24 June 2017 at the Golden Peacock Hotel where she will be showcasing her fresh label, “I Am Ngosikadzi”.

Smile of a winner...Robin Chaibva

The event is highly anticipated with several high profile guests and diplomats expected to congregate in Malawi's official capital for the fledgling event.

LIFW organisers scouted for designers from around the world, and after finding the diamond in the rough that is Robin’s blog; “Ngosikadzi by Concrete Jungle Fashion – ZW” they invited her as a guest designer.

“It is amazing how I had embarked on fashion three years ago, which was a major flop due to poor job by a manufacturer. I posted it on the blog and I was slowly experimenting fashion,” says Robin.

But fortune favours the brave. And apparently the unrelenting as she soon found out after this unearthing.

Robin showcases some of her pieces

After spending three years working in online and social media at Zimbabwe Newspapers, she decided to embark fully on entrepreneurship using her blogging as a master tool. It was a masterstroke decision. Learning from her previous mistakes in fashion and training in entrepreneurship with Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship 2016 program she anticipates a more planned fashion label.

“After training in entrepreneurship as well as growing from exposure through working in media and writing a column my collection is (now) more structured in its manufacturing system,” she states.

The LIFW event will also have designers from Malawi and international designers based in Australia, Egypt, France, Kenya, South Africa, United States and Zimbabwe.

“My collection is called ‘Cultural Warrior’ a womenswear urban travel collection that signifies a call for an African awakening and unity through African identity. She carries cultural influences from around the continent as she fights for the cultural awakening of African people,” says Robin.

As part of the collection call for unity and rising of African people, Robin is building her collection using various Zimbabwean handmade artisans and Small Entreprise holders to manufacture the clothing and accessories.

Art Director for the vision of the collection is award winning designer Vongai Gogwe-Sibanda of VonsDesign. Another collaboration is eco-friendly shoe manufacturer Happiers Nyowane of Veld Trekkers, also a 2016 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneur, who will have an exclusive handmade shoe designed especially for the collection.

Showcasing Zimbabwe...Lilongwe International Fashion Week Ad...

“In the spirit of Ubuntu, the show in Malawi will have a very Zimbabwean urban feel from the music and the artists who have made it possible. It is going to be very surprising, even for me. Blogging has opened my network for productive collaborations and I am ready to bring it.” Robin says

The collection will be available under her travel blog brand, HAMBA.

Robin is a mad blogger, crazy spirit and beautiful soul; Follow updates on www.tatendarobyn.wordpress.com and Instagram @hambanow and @iamngosikadzi the hashtag is #LIFW2017