Fashion Week Zanzibar 2013 (FWZ)

Fashion Week Zanzibar 2013 (FWZ)

The fashion development in Zanzibar will ultimately gain another new momentum few days to come following the glamorous fashion week expected to colour and raise attraction of models in the rich historical and architecture town. Fashion Week Zanzibar 2013 (FWZ) is termed as the official event to be held for three days from October 24 in Zanzibar. The event would spot the freshest and newest styles created by established and up and coming designers at the glance of showcasing the best and most unique styles in the region. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, one of the event's founders Farouque Abdella, said the region has recently been witnessing the flow of many foreign designers working in the area and that it is the right moment for domestic-based designers to take over the market by unveiling their potential capabilities. 'The island's home-grown fashion industry has been developing in exciting new ways in recent years. One of a kind designs pulling from the varied influences of Zanzibar culture and island life, mixed with the brightly coloured patterns of khanga and kitenge, create a strong sense of place and culture in the domestic fashion industry', he added. Responding to the cultural dressing style exercised by many people in the island that denies any short or half-naked clothes, Abdella who is also a fashion designer and businessman in Zanzibar, appended that the designing system will cover the assertiveness of cultural practices of Zanzibar's people so as to avoid any possible confusion that may arise. Abdella insists that FWZ is not simply a fashion festival but will incorporate with a number of stirring events which take the community as the part of it by bringing people together with creativity and greatly the workshop that will be conducted soon after the fashion showcases. Professor Karen Steen, an academician of fashion design and merchandising at Cazenovia College, in Cazenovia, New York, USA in collaboration with Farouque Abdella will conduct the workshop's lectures at Sea Cliff Resort and Spa for two days from October 28. The workshop is a part of the program that is anticipated in discussions of technical aspects of sewing, product development, professional and merchandising also participant's application of their ideas in the business and products they create. According to Javed Jafferji one of the FWZ's founders, designers whose collections will be featured in the fashion week runway show will be granted an opportunity to attend the two-day workshop. 'A workshop will be focusing on international trends and how Zanzibar fashion business owners can best address those trends and market their products successfully. On this budge the designers will attend in accordance to their collections featuring in the runway show.' The Fashion Week Zanzibar 2013 is powered by Vodacom Tanzania and will be held at Mtoni Palace Ruins (Unguja) is expected to draw attraction of 21 designers, five from Mainland Tanzania, Norway, Rwanda and others from around the globe. Fifteen of them from Zanzibar where they will be presenting their exclusive designs and live audiences and over 300 celebrity guests are expected.