Malawi designer hits the spotlight in SA

When one of Malawi’s emerging fashion designers travelled to South Africa for this year’s RVK Fashion Week, little did she know that would be her breakthrough.

After the two-day event that took place on September 11 and 12 in Pretoria, Nellie George Donga, the founder and owner of Nels Secret Possessions, has been selected as one of the representatives from southern Africa at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Ghana which takes place next May.

The RVK event saw Donga exhibit 12 pieces, which are mainly a mix of two contrasting fabrics.

“My designs are trendy as I mix polka dots and chitenje, which is something nobody else has ever done in Malawi. It is quite unusual when you just think of it, but once you have a look at the outfits, they are simply irresistible. Mind you, I specialise in female outfits and I have a studio in Area 47/3,” she said.

She has since organised a follow up show in November in Lilongwe, to raise funds for her trip to Ghana.

Without divulging much detail, designer and co-founder of RVK Fashion Week Bongani Tambo confirmed Donga’s selection to represent Malawi at the fashion event in Ghana and other events to come next year.

“I met Nellie when I came to Malawi in June and I attended one of the celebrity fashion events that took place at the Bingu International Conference Centre [Bicc] in Lilongwe. I spotted her because she was the best according to me that night and I asked for her details. After the fashion event here [in South Africa], we selected three designers to go to Ghana and Milan also and she is one of them.

The other event is Milan Afro-pop Fashion Week in September 2016 and she will be showcasing in South Africa again next year at the big fashion event called Tshwane Fashion Festival an event that will be in the capital city of South Africa. And she also attracted other fashion icons locally and those based in London as well as fashion buyers who attended the event,” explained Tambo. n