Malawi designers off to Nigeria
Malawi’s top designers are set to showcase at the African Movie Academy Awards (Amaa) gala event in Nigeria this weekend.
Fashion Malawi Edition (FAME) in conjunction with Amaa will hold the fashion exposition in Bayelsa State on dates to be communicated, with an aim to bringing art and music together.
Leading up to the Africa Amaa nominations in Malawi last month, the two entities hosted an exclusive and spectacular fashion show in Lilongwe where Nigerian and Guinean designers also participated.
“We are continuing with the trend we started in Malawi last month. It’s a film, music and fashion exposure and exchange for Malawi artists. Therefore, Malawian designers thus 2012 Fame winner Yavinde Nyasulu – as part of her winnings will travel for the international showcase. She will be joined by Lilly Alfonso our2010 winner.
“We are proud that these two will showcase at Amaa Nigeria. Both designers participated in our launch Fame Malawi Fashion Week last month with Nigeria designer Ejiro Amos-Tafari and Krouma Ibrahim of Fad Couture from Guinea and Malawi’s haus of Gola. Both the West African designers are also showing at Amaa this time around,” said Fame creative director and co-founder ZilanieNyundo.
She said the fashion shows mark the start of a working relationshipbetween Fame and Amaa.
“We have a collaborative relationship to promote African fashion. The exclusive cocktail launch of Fame Malawi Fashion Week in March which is scheduled for August 28 to September 2 at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe, was the start of the relationship and much more is in store as we move forward,” she explained.
The news has excited Alfonso and Nyasulu who are looking forward toraising the Malawi flag in Africa’s populous nation.
“I am making creations from the latest tie and dye from Macoha,Chrissie Mijiga’stie and dye as well as Mapeto David Whiteheadfabrics. The idea is to promote Malawian products at the internationallevel,” said Alfonso in aninterview.
Nyasulu added by saying: “It is a great opportunity for me and Malawi,as such I am very excited. Both myself and the country will benefitfrom the exposure since our fashion industry is still in its infancy.”
