Tracing the roots of Divayn designs
Her passion for fashion designing emerged from altering old clothes to creating and setting a trend of her own which can be credited to her label, Divayn.
To many, she is simply a trend-setter, a lover of fashion, particularly that which expresses African origin.
She is Memory Divine Chimchere, a fashion designer based in Nkolokosa, Blantyre. She has childhood roots in Lilongwe and Japan, where she lived for five years.
Japan proved to be the birthing place for her passion for fashion and exposure to beauty, style and creative arts.
Within the five years she lived there, Memory’s passion was demonstrated through her collection of fashion magazines which she converted into personal fashion journals. This period also inspired her vision as she was surrounded by shops hosting the world’s top fashion icons such as Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Anna Sui, Elsa Schiaparelli and Channel.
This exposure mixed with her African roots created a blend in her style whose origin can only be portrayed by her designs today.
“My designs are an expression of me. They represent a classical woman in a respectable manner, simplicity but elegant. I don’t want to depart from Malawian culture,” she explained.
Memory was unveiled last week as one of the designers taking part in Malawi Fashion Week at an evening event in Blantyre.
“Malawi’s fashion industry is still in its infancy and requires huge investment by government and the private sector, but it has the potential of promoting the country’s art in a different way. It is for this reason that I dream of taking fashion to another level, I want to see Malawians owning fashion shops like Versace, Dior and Dolce & Gabanna.
“I also crave the day when designers in the country will come up with an association with the aim of promoting each other though the participation of fashion weeks in other countries,” she said.
Designs by Divayn have been previously showcased at fashion events locally.
The 25-year-old is looking forward to Malawi Fashion Week as a platform for knowledge expansion through interaction with other designers and models.
“Currently, am focussing on Malawi Fashion Week in May to June. At the same time, this is also a period of interacting more with those in the industry who have made a mark like Lilly Alfonso. I am also looking at opportunities that may come along,” said Memory.
