TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA & NATHANIEL GONDO
The story of Zimbabwe Fashion Week is clearly one of resilience: surmounting the odds when it seems greatly arduous to carry on. Which was the whole deal about this year’s edition. Basically, proving to all and sundry that ZFW is the premier fashion event in Zimbabwe. Given its previous setbacks in recent years, and how it had become something of an intermittent event, this year’s showing exceeded expectations; showing that groundbreaking creativity that pushes new frontiers in fashion is very much alive, not only in Zimbabwe but throughout the continent of Africa. It was that theme of Pan-Africanism that gave this year’s edition some much-needed flavour that fashion enthusiasts and stakeholders yearned for.
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| Koki Kamala collection at Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2025 in October; designed by Koketso Chiepe [Image: Vine Imagery] |
And these are the words we can use to describe this year’s edition: stunning, classy, stylistic, polished; determined to win, while fully encapsulating the official theme, The New African Vanguard. This is what essentially sums up the Zimbabwe Fashion Week (ZFW) 2025. Hosted at the rebranded Hyatt Regency in Harare from 9 to 11 October 2025, the three-day extravaganza showcased exquisite collections from both renowned veterans and exciting new designers in the industry. There was nothing facile about it; as it was a carefully curated experience that offered memorable moments as far as our creativity in this country and on the continent is concerned.
ZFW 2025 was nothing short of a major success, with amazing brands coming from Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and – you guessed it right – Zimbabwe, of course. The runway was dominated by strong themes of Pan-African pride, breathtaking contemporary trends, and chic ready-to-wear pieces that felt genuinely out of this world. To this end, our unwavering commitment is to document these unforgettable fashion moments for later generations to know that some creatives sacrificed to build the foundation for Zimbabwe’s ever-growing fashion industry. So we take a look at what really made this edition of ZFW a success.
The Venue – Hyatt Regency: An inspired choice
Before we go any further, we will talk about the venue first. ZFW 2025 was hosted at the palatial Hyatt Regency The Meikles Hotel in Harare, and this proved to be one of the wisest and most strategic moves on the part of the ZFW organizers. Put simply, there is no more perfect venue than the Hyatt Regency.
Think of it – the past two editions were held in Victoria Falls and at the Old Greatermans Building in Harare, but neither possessed the unified impact of the current choice. Hosting ZFW 2025 at the Hyatt Regency was a cheat code on its own, with elegance, convenience, and accessibility put together in one place. It gave the fashion week the unmatched aura it deserved, gesturing toward the best international standards.
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| Costavina by Ngoni Muchanyangi [Image: Vine Imagery] |
With an attendance worth writing home about, the venue had the distinct ability to capitalise on the temporary residency of visitors who were already booked at the hotel and were not affiliated in any way with ZFW. The visitors who attended from all corners of the world were able to see the grandeur of Zimbabwean fashion presented in an environment comparable to international standards. Which, in essence, is the raison d’être of ZFW, i.e., giving designers a world-class stage.
This location choice cemented ZFW 2025’s perception among stakeholders as a grand resurgence. The venue gave designers the spotlight they truly deserved. Come 2026, we hope the venue will be as perfect as this one — or even better.
The Stalls – A remarkably user-friendly experience
Stalls are the cornerstone of any fashion showcase. Aside from the runway, attendees need to see for themselves the brands present and what they are offering. Bridging the designer and end-user dichotomy was one thing ZFW was determined to get right (and they did). The market stalls were a walk-in experience, free for anyone, featuring brands both off and on the runway selling their magnificent pieces. It felt so refreshing.
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| Denims by Evelyn Mubochwa's Afro Jumbo [Image: Vine Imagery] |
The stalls were a much-needed feature, providing the vital opportunity for designers and end users to interact directly, offering the audience styling inspiration and insight into the story behind each piece. It was a crucial commercial hub.
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| Char Designz exhibiting at its stall. |
Speaking to one of the customers from South Africa who bought an Urban Zulu jersey, he said that the market stall was a good initiative and vowed to take the piece everywhere when he travels, as he is based in the United States of America. This is what was really needed—connecting people from all over the world to buy our local designers’ products. We look forward to the next ZFW to see what will be in store for us. These market stalls must continue as they are a good initiative.
The Panel Discussions – Infusing intellectual rigour into fashion
Beyond the glitz of the runway, ZFW 2025 also embraced the intellectual side of fashion. It provided an opportunity to engage in critical conversations designed to improve the perspectives of all stakeholders involved. Sometimes, it often feels like panel discussions at arts events revolve around the same topics, but with ZFW they tried their best to ensure the topics were varied and spoke directly to the needs of the fashion industry and the creative economy at large.
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| Highlights from one of the panel discussions [Image: Vine Imagery] |
The panel discussions, steered by the Hunhu Council of Fashion, featured industry experts, designers, and creative entrepreneurs dissecting topics like “Streetwear Without Borders: Urban Fashion, Identity and the New Creative Economy,” “Culture as Capital: Music, Beauty, Fashion and Design in a Changing World,” and “Reimagining Zimbabwe's Fashion Industry: Policy, Innovation and Global Competitiveness.”
These discussions emphasized that Zimbabwean fashion is not just about clothes. It’s also about identity, sustainability, and storytelling. We walked out of the panel discussions feeling like we can transform the fashion industry in revolutionary ways never witnessed before. Perhaps that was the intention—giving the impression that beyond the actual work of the creatives, we also need to gather and discuss ways to push the art forward.
These panels featured different panellists, including Kyla Blac, Brett Van Rooyen, Tafadzwa Moyo of Kidd Hunta, Minister of White Linen, Valerie Kabov, Napoleon Nyanhi, Priscilla Chigariro, Francis London from the United States of America, Makeba Boateng from Ghana, among others. The discussions were held every afternoon before the evening shows. They were less about passing trends and more about building a robust and lasting industrial ecosystem, underscoring ZFW's commitment to creating generational wealth within the creative sector.
The Models: The pulse of the runway
Oh man, the backbone of any fashion show. For what is a fashion week without the models? Beyond any shred of doubt, we certainly experienced the crème de la crème of Zim models. They were up to the task and executed their duties with remarkable finesse. The models were sharp and on point, impeccably representing the brands they wore. They gave so much life to the concepts that each and every designer who showcased envisaged.
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| Planet Avur by Ruva Mutsinze [Image: Vine Imagery] |
A momentous highlight that caught everyone's eye was the future models who came and modelled for Vanisha Crochet. These children – sorry, the future models – were not even frightened by the biggest fashion stage as they gracefully cat-walked on that giant runway, earning a well-deserved standing ovation. The grand finale saw the top hierarchy of ZFW, including veteran models like Priscilla Chigariro, take the runway by storm, keeping their feet on the ground and conveying a powerful reminder to all young models that the world is theirs for the taking.
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| The social message embedded in Urban Zulu (Papy Kaluw) designs, putting a spotlight on the crisis in Congo [Image: Vine Imagery] |
Performances: Style meets sound
Saiiren and Kuda Rice gave superstar performances and reminded everyone why they were chosen for the ZFW stage. Both artists were visually on point—Saiiren dressed in a breathtaking Char Designz piece, and Kuda Rice performing with elegance while adorning a striking ensemble by Bakari. Kudos to Priscilla Chigariro and her organizing team for roping in such artists who are built to perform for such a high-profile stage. The bar set by this entertainment lineup is the new standard that should be the starting point for all future editions.
The Collections: Africa's new creative vanguard
The heartbeat of any fashion week is definitely the designers. And if there had been any doubts lingering among those who attended regarding the unrivalled brilliance of Zimbabwean designers, then these were put to rest beyond any qualms. The designers gave a breathtaking showcase of African creativity—distinct, unparalleled, inimitable—that left everyone overawed.
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| Serenity by Precious Kasongo [Image: Vine Imagery] |
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| Seguru Denims by Segulm |
The designers went all out. They understood the assignment well and delivered spectacularly on the biggest fashion stage in the country.
An amazing total of 23+ brands showcased on the runway: Empowerment Design Studio (Pia Hintz), Afro Jumbo (Evelyn Mubochwa), Reenzara (Mehreen Kamal), Ruby’s Touch Designs (Ruby Zinyawu), Planet Avur (Ruva Mutsinze), Seguru Denims (Segulm), French Kiss Luxury (Victoria Karonga), Costavina (Ngoni Muchanyangi), Urban Zulu (Papy Kaluw), Tarakari (Tadiwa R. Karidza), Esther Austin (Esther Austin), Hilz Couture (Hilda Mabu), If Acted (Buhle Moyo), Haus of Stone (Danayi Madondo), Attention To Detail (Tarisai Nhandara), Kidd Hunta (Tafadzwa Moyo), Terry Thobani (Terrence Ngulube), House of Queen Bee (Brenda Gwata), Vanisha Crochet (Vanisha Ramjee), Lin Couture (Amalinda), GLC Exclusive (Graham Chabvamupero), Serenity (Precious Kasongo), Mawoko (Bethany Magaya), and Koki Kamala (Koketso Chiepe). All of them understood perfectly the task at hand of expressing the Pan-African spirit and theme in their designs. Riveting stuff, truly.
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| Mawoko by Bethany Magaya [Image: Vine Imagery] |
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| Regal: House of Queen Bee by Brenda Gwata [Image: Vine Imagery] |
The collections told fascinating, defiant, and hopeful stories. One that particularly caught our attention was Urban Zulu’s, which advocated for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, home country of designer Papy Kaluw. Fashion transcends aesthetics and can be a powerful tool to tell stories that matter in society—stories of huge magnitude regarding social impact, identity, and cultural heritage. Another major highlight was the 14-year-old Evelyn Mubochwa of Afro Jumbo, as well as Costavina’s collection and Koki Kamala’s designs that oozed elegance. There was also Empowerment Design Studio from Zambia and their refreshing message of women-led sustainability.
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| Empowerment Design Studio by Pia Hintz [Image: Vine Imagery] |
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| Attention to Detail by Tarisai Nhandara [Image: Vine Imagery] |
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| Vanisha Crochet by Vanisha Ramjee. The kids shone! [Image: Vine Imagery] |
Beyond the spectacle of the set and the models, the clothes themselves told a compelling and coherent story. The Pan-African narrative was beautifully woven throughout the four days. Haus of Stone, already celebrated for its sophisticated tailoring, presented a line of rich yet minimalist wear. Ruby’s Touch Designs focused on the strong and elegant African woman, featuring Great Zimbabwe motifs. Attention To Detail captivated the audience with structured contemporary pieces perfectly balancing global trends with local artisanal detailing.
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| Haus of Stone by Danayi Madondo [Image: Vine Imagery] |
A standout newcomer, Planet Avur, championed sustainability, showing a stunning collection crafted with passion; some pieces featuring Basquiat-inspired hand-drawn art with natural pigments. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Koki Kamala lived up to its name, presenting truly vanguard concepts—wearable pieces that pushed the boundaries of silhouette and texture, serving as a powerful and eloquent demonstration of Zimbabwean creativity on the global stage.
We must return to Vanisha Crochet’s line. While their future models were bold and confident, their children’s collection was truly heartwarming—modernising the art of crochet and transforming it from a simple handicraft into luxurious, intricate, ready-to-wear pieces.
Conclusion
In closing, the Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2025 transcended being a runway show; it was a cultural and commercial declaration. What stood out above everything else was the indefatigability of ZFW. From the flawless execution at the Hyatt Regency to the meaningful dialogue of the panel discussions and the sheer brilliance of the designers, Priscilla Chigariro and her team went beyond just setting new standards.
Their story was simple: they will continue to do this as their names get etched in the annals of fashion excellence. The event successfully merged stunning local craftsmanship with global commercial viability. The commitment to Pan-African aesthetics and vanguard concepts confirms that ZFW is not just observing the future of fashion—it is actively creating it.
Zimbabwe is firmly back on the international fashion map. And though we believe more can be done and achieved, we are satisfied with this year’s show.
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| Esther Austin by Esther Austin [Imagery: Vine Imagery] |
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| IF Acted by Buhle Moyo [Image: Vine Imagery] |
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