Sidumiso Tshuma
Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life Correspondent
ZIMBABWEAN fashion designer, Sidumiso Tshuma last week rocked Durban Fashion Fair with his famous brand, Shadow by Sidumiso.
The fashion exhibition which was held at the Durban Exhibition Centre in South Africa saw the talented Zimbabwean showcasing his knight-themed collection.
Tshuma, who is one of the two designers from Bulawayo, participated at the Durban Fashion Fair courtesy of the twinning relationship between Bulawayo and Ethekwini.
The twinning agreement for the two cities was signed in 2010 and Bulawayo has been participating in the annual Celebrate Durban since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2002.
Tshuma, who showcased for the third time at the Durban Fashion Fair, was one of the favourite participants outside South Africa.
Having showcased last year, he was among a few designers that dressed idols. The Zimbabwean designer dressed South African Idol Judge/TV Personality/Choreographer — Somizi Mhlongo also known as Somgaga.
Tshuma who is also an alumnus of the local Intwasa Fashion Fair was invited to showcase along fellow countryman, Nkanyeziyethu Malunga. Both underwent intensive internship conducted by Hunnar Management Agency in collaboration with Edgars Stores.
In an interview, Tshuma said his designs were as result of a deeper subjective inner feeling.
“Working on the knight collection proved that I can do so much with the fabrics available. My collection is a mixture of woolen material, suiting, jacket material and some metallic in all shades of grey,” said Tshuma.
He added: “The collection represents a strong being and cuts through issues of colour by having the colours incorporated into different shades of grey. A knight is a strong person who pushes through no matter what, it just portrays how we as Zimbabweans and Africans, fight through life in our everyday struggles and beauties.”
In the previous years, the Durban Fashion Fair was mixed with collections being showcased by designers from across Africa.
However, in its five-year anniversary, the fashion fair introduced a separate first day for men’s wear only.
With a rise in men’s wear appreciation, collections were showcased by Tshuma and his Shadow by Sidumiso alongside South Africa’s Black Pepper, Afro Amanno, House of St Luke, Gravitie, Eullue, Nigeria’s Clemas, Ghana’s Abrantie, and many others.
The Durban Fashion Fair is one of the leading fashion events in Africa and it attracts the stature of internationally recognised fashion weeks. The fashion event was attended by thousands of fashion buyers, textile companies, fashionistas, media and industry players.