Fashion meets Lake Malawi

Imagine a spectacular fashion show on the golden sands of a calm fresh-water lake. To those who thronged the Summertime Gala at Sunbird Livingstonia on Saturday, this is no more the stuff imaginations are made of—it’s real, serious business.

In a marriage of fashion and tourism the country is starved of, emerging designer Cathy Kamthunzi on Saturday turned Lake Malawi into an unmatched fashion ground venue when she showcased her Spectacular Fashion’s summer and beach wear.

Throughout the event, five models—two boys and three girls—faced the audience in Kamthunzi’s latest creations, ranging from bikini to bum-shots and boxers.

The show caught the attention of M-Net East Africa who will beam it on M-Net Channel, Magic World, Africa Magic, Africa Magic + and Series channel through the new lifestyle magazine programme, Mashariki Mix.

The programme’s co-host, Kenyan Big Brother rep Nic Alexander, was on the scene to capture the beachside gala.

 “The show is special for two reasons. First, the location is along the beautiful Lake Malawi, which is full of scenic sites worth showing the world. Second, while female models are used to walking the ramp, the highlight is that the male models are new in the industry but fit, good-looking, tall athletes,” said  Nic, who was accompanied by Mashariki Mix producer Victor Ogala.

He added: “This is spectacular and next we will hear Malawi has a fashion show on the lake just like in other countries. The lake plays a beautiful backdrop to the models.”

Equally excited by the idea of holding fashion events on the margins of the continent’s third largest lake were the fans.

“I wish we had many of these events. While the designer is selling the creative works, this is one way of selling Malawi’s natural beauty. Imagine such events are beamed on international TV channels we can woo more people towards our tourist attraction sites,” said a Lilongwe based Patrick Msamati.