IT seems Bulawayo’s clothing designers have gathered momentum as seen by the number of clothing labels that have hit the market since last year.
DIVINE DUBE Own Correspondent
Tsotsi, a clothing label popularised by promising fashion designer Bukhosi Mdladla aka Tsotsi is one of the labels that has recently taken the city’s fashion industry by a rave wave.
The field of fashion in Zimbabwe generally has in the past been the least pursued with several fashion fanatics, socialites and celebrities that wearing foreign labels.
However, fashion in Zimbabwe and Bulawayo in particular, seems to be a new field to explore with several labels such as BlinqXclusiveJewellery, Shadow by Sdumiso, Rebellious Klothing, Clix Clothing and Tripple L and Listo being released as local designers fiercely push to make a mark in the suppressed clothing sector.
One rising fashionista who has managed to curve a niche in the fashion industry is Bukhosi Mdladla who has defied all odds by popularising his own clothing label Tsotsi.
The label Tsotsi has earned him a nick-name Tsotsi, a street lingo which refers to conman or scoundrel.
But wait! This man is not a rascal! He is infact one of the city’s rising fashionista.
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Mdladla has designed outfits for local models who have participated at the flamboyant Miss Bulawayo pageant as well as local musicians.
But when did this ambitious fashion fanatic receive his calling in this not so-popular industry which seems to be a preserve for women?
“Fashion designing to me is an inborn thing. I have never attended any Cutting and Designing School but the skill just flows naturally in me,” the modest artiste said.
“When I grew up I had very few clothes and this helped me to master the art of creativity. I had one set of clothes but I would look different using the same outfit.”
I started playing around with clothing when I was a teenager and since then I have found my niche,” Mdladla said.
The sassy artiste said his clothing label which he infact says was founded in 2006 has not yet been officially launched because the fashion industry in Zimbabwe is not taken seriously hence designers are stunted due to lack of proper investment in the industry.
“Fashion designing is not taken seriously here in Zimbabwe as you know there is little or no investment in the industry. Despite being founded in 2006 my label has not yet been fully recognised,” the modest designer said.
He also said locals did not appreciate and believe in local style hence they pursued foreign clothing labels.
“In Zimbabwe one is regarded as classy when they pride themselves with expensive fancy clothing labels from Britain and America. When you wear local labels people do not recognise you,” Mdladla charged.
Mdladla vowed not to abandon the fashion industry although the industry continues to suffer a heavy brunt in terms of investment saying in the end the industry will get due recognition.
The 29-year-old designer has participated among other fashion events, at the fabulous Miss Rural Zimbabwe pageant as a designer. He has also been a participant for Radio Dialogue Fashion Show and has been an exhibitor at Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo.
Currently, he works from his Magwegwe home and envisages opening a clothing shop to promote his clothing label – Tsotsi.
