Former South African service providers, Group of Creatives, (GC) – an events management start-up founded by Jen Deiner and husband Simon Deiner – plan to arraign Zimbabwe Fashion Week (ZFW) founder, Priscilla Chigariro Gessen, before the courts over a breach of contract.
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In a letter obtained by Southern Eye Lifestyle the Deiners, sent e-mails to Zimbabwean designers stating they would no longer work with Chigariro Gessen.
“We distanced ourselves from the ZFW platform after it was clear we could not work together with founder, Priscilla Chigariro Gessen. She did not pay for our services. Numerous designers had contacted us regarding the upcoming 2015 event, so we thought it was time to share our departure after two years on board with ZFW.
ZFW, in response, released a slanderous and factually incorrect mailer out to the industry with the hope of discrediting us at GC. Sadly it was expected. Regarding the e-mail from ZFW, we do, however, take the opposite approach – we will start to legally institute proceedings against Priscilla Chigariro-Gessen personally within Harare, Zimbabwe.
“Previous producers of ZFW, Adhiambo Mula Lauwers, have confirmed this was exactly the same for their tenure as producers, with thousands of dollars still owed, the same as we are. Over 25 people reached out with one thing in common: not being paid, or being threatened.”
ZFW released a press statement refuting claims: “Zimbabwe Fashion International regrets to announce that it has become a victim of an unwarranted malicious act of slander and defamation by one of its disgruntled former service providers from South Africa, specifically Group of Creatives, an events management start-up, founded by Jen Deiner, wife of a fashion photographer, Simon Deiner.
“ZFI has considered the legal options available to it in light of this ugly and dishonourable attack, but we have decided that to expend time and funds to punish GC will be an inefficient investment of our resources, and that people who care about the industry and general fairness will be able to see through the ugly fabric of false accusations if we set the record straight. In 2013, ZFI (Zimbabwe Fashion International) engaged the services of GC to provide support in the production of our annual event.
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“GC was just starting in the business, and offered very competitive pricing. The quality of work was acceptable, and we made the decision to engage GC again in 2014. In 2014, numerous conflicts arose between GC and other service providers of ZFI on the basis of unacceptable, racially biased and patronising attitude of GC towards local Zimbabwean providers.
Production problems were blamed by GC on our ‘staff’s incompetence” and no responsibility was ever accepted for production failures. ZFI was forced to seek emergency replacement for some of the providers who walked off the set due to insults and mistreatment by the GC. In January 2015 GC again approached ZFI with an offer to produce ZFW in 2015: ZFI formally notified GC that it would no longer be requiring its services.
“In response, GC engaged in clear blackmail, and threatened that unless the business relationship continued, they would endeavour to destroy the reputation of ZFI on the African market,” ZFW added.
