Amagugu ventures into fashion designing
AS part of their vision to be a centre of excellence in the documentation, preservation and promotion of indigenous cultural heritage, Amagugu International Heritage Centre (AIHC) has ventured into fashion designing through the first ever Eco Fashion Show which will be held in August.
AIHC partnered with fashion designers Hararebased Rudo Nondo and Bulawayo’s Nkanyeziyethu Malunga for the fashion show and the two designers have already identified artisans based in Matobo with whom they would like to work and equipped them with design briefs as well as production material.
In an interview with Sunday Life, AIHC Programmes Manager Butholezwe Nyathi revealed that they had taken up the project in a bid to fully utilise the skills of the people of Matobo.
“Fashion is an art form and the same techniques used in basket weaving can be used in fashion as well. We want the local artisans to use their skill for many different products with different functionalities. We aim to create a relationship between the local artisans and fashion designers and provide a wider product offering. By making products they do not usually make the artisans will also be able to be more creative and enhance their scope. The ultimate desire is expansion of livelihood options for rural artisans through establishment of market linkages,” Nyathi said.
He added that the venture would be beneficial to both AIHC as a heritage centre as well as to the general public of Matobo.
“The expansion into a new art genre and product offering can translate into increased income which will financially empower the community and boost the local community. As a heritage institution we have the liberty and leverage to pursue all forms of creativity within the artistic value chain,” he said.
Of note is that the Eco Fashion show will happen under the ambit of the Matobo Heritage Festival that AIHC is launching in August. The fashion show will be part of the many other activities that will be happening. The Festival seeks to promote the tangible and intangible cultural heritage reposed within the Matobo World Heritage Landscape.
The target audience for the festival are primary and secondary schools whose curriculum has been expanded to include visual, performing arts and heritage studies. Activities at the Festival will include traditional court simulation, folktales and storytelling, visual art sessions, indigenous games, discussions on natural and cultural conservations as well as tour of cave paintings.