Nitefreak. Tongayi Chirisa. Rachel Chinouriri. Moffat Takadiwa. Chipo Chung. S1mba. Tkay Maidza. Farayi Simoyi.
These are some of the names that come to mind when speaking of Zimbabwean-born creatives doing it big in the diaspora.
For some, their country of origin is now a distant memory. For others, Zimbabwe remains a core part of their identity. Nevertheless, they all deserve to be documented for pushing the envelope of creativity in their respective fields.
Mcheno and More, Zimbabwe’s foremost fashion and culture blog, always has a pulse on our creatives from around the world. During our early days, we featured Major Static Clothing, one of the many brands that sprung up in the now historic 2023 Brands Boom. The founder of the brand, EmSwiss, relocated to Poland in mid-2023 and since then we have been keeping tabs on his progress in a new environment.
To his credit, he’s made us proud. He featured in an ad campaign for Polish brand Palto last year, and has become a quite notable figure of the African creative community in Poland.
This is how we discovered 21 year-old Tinashe Patrick Jnr Jimu, based in Lublin. In the two years that he has been in Poland, Tinashe has emerged as a sought-after model, stylist and creative director; bringing diversity and representation to the Polish fashion scene.
Naturally, we just had to explore the mind behind the face. Here is our conversation with Tinashe – from his upbringing, how he ended up doing fashion in Poland, as well his future plans for Zimbabwean fashion. Enjoy!
Hie Tinashe. First off, can you tell us a bit about yourself, your upbringing; and how it influenced your love for fashion?
I was born in Zimbabwe in 2004 and raised in a household that encourages creativity and selfexpression.
Growing up, fashion became my escape and a way to communicate who I was without saying a word. I’ve always been inspired by how people carry themselves through style—how an outfit can tell a story. This gradually turned into a passion, especially in my late teens when I started experimenting more boldly with my wardrobe.
During your upbringing, what brands did you mostly wear? Was there anywhere you could buy local brands?
Growing up, I mostly wore clothes from South African brands—my mom loved shopping at places like Pep, Jet, and Ackermans. Those were the go-to spots for affordable, everyday wear, and honestly, they had everything you needed.
There wasn’t much of a market for local brands, but I’d occasionally turn to thrifting. We’d get clothes at the Avondale Flea Market. That place was a goldmine for unique finds, especially if you had an eye for style. At the time, it wasn’t about wearing something expensive or branded — it was about how you wore it and the confidence behind it.
These are the experiences that shaped my creative approach to fashion, even till today.
When did you relocate to Poland, and why? How did you end up getting into the fashion scene in Poland?
I moved to Poland close to the end of 2023 for new educational opportunities and a change of environment.
Initially, it was about education and work, but fashion followed me here. I started networking and attending creative events in Poland’s fashion scene, especially in cities like Lublin and Warsaw which are more open-minded and diverse.
I eventually got the opportunity to walk in amazing runway shows and collaborate with some really good photographers. Special mention goes to the following creatives — whyme.photo, avision, piotr.jaruga, vabz creative.
You’re gaining popularity as a model in Poland. Tell us how that opportunity came about, and how the experience has been like?
It all started with a local creative meet-up and some Fashion test shoots for a brand called TOOFIT that went really well. Word spread from there, and soon I was booked for my first fashion show a month later. After that, I featured in a couple of editorials and did countless collaborations.
The experience has been empowering—it’s taught me a lot about presence, confidence, and the importance of showing up authentically. I’ve also made some incredible friends in the industry here and met so many amazing individuals.
How many shows have you modeled so far? Can you list and describe them?
I’ve walked in about 4 fashion shows so far — the Guilty Pleasure Fashion Show by Cracon Agency and VabzCreative; The Thanksgiving Gala and Africa Day Fashion Festival both organised by the ABRAHAM D Ministry Foundation.
Each show had its own energy—some were high fashion, others more streetwear or avant-garde. I loved the how they allowed for creative freedom in the shows and performance.
Did you have any prior modeling experience before doing runways in Poland?
Before coming to Poland, I didn’t have formal runway experience. But I was always involved in fashion content—shooting street style looks, creating aesthetic videos for Instagram, and just always working on my wardrobe.
That gave me a strong foundation and eye for fashion, which helped me transition into modeling naturally.
The African diaspora has contributed to shaping perspectives on Africa. What are you doing to represent your homeland in Poland?
I use my platform to show the beauty, creativity, and depth of Zimbabwean creativity through fashion. Whether it’s through styling choices, storytelling, or highlighting African brands, I aim to shift perceptions and spark curiosity.
It’s important to me that when people in Poland see me, they see a representation of a modern, forward-thinking Zimbabwean voice.
Poland has a diverse diaspora community from many African countries. Is there a sense of community amongst Africans in Poland?
Yes, there’s a growing sense of community among Africans in Poland. We support each other through creative projects, cultural events, and even casual meetups. That solidarity means everything—it reminds us we’re not alone and allows us to build something meaningful together.
At the same time, you get to learn the different perspectives people live with in their lives and that makes life even more beautiful to live in. To be able to understand each other even from different countries.
How has your interaction with fellow Africans in Poland shaped your perspective on art, fashion and style?
It’s been incredibly enriching. I’ve learned so much from fellow Africans here—our styles may differ, but we share the same pride in who we are and where we come from.
That exchange of ideas, music, and aesthetics has pushed me to broaden my vision and experiment more boldly in my creative work. Always learning and incorporating what we learn from others to create our best work is the goal.
You also have your own imprint that you’re developing called ACE. Tell us more about that?
I’m currently developing my own Fashion Styling and Creative Direction initiative called ACE.
It’s going to be a blend of fashion, styling, and storytelling, focusing on curated looks that represent both African roots and modern global aesthetics. It’ll be more than just clothes—it’s about identity, art, and culture in a modern, exclusive and distinct way.
While in Poland, have you been tapped in to the Zim fashion scene?
I’ve started reconnecting with the Zimbabwean fashion scene from afar—mostly through social media and collaborations with diaspora creatives. I haven’t worked directly with Zim-based designers yet, but I’m very aware of some talented individuals who are doing amazing things.
It’s definitely something I want to tap into more deeply moving forward.
Would you return to Zimbabwe? What role would you like to play in Zim fashion?
Absolutely—I would love to return, even if temporarily, to collaborate and invest in the Zim fashion industry.
I see myself playing a role in bridging local talent with global opportunities—whether through creative direction, styling workshops, or helping young designers get international exposure.
Zimbabwe has so much potential and I want to be part of telling that story to the world. It’s our time to shine!
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He may be far from home, but Tinashe finds himself comfortably perched in Poland’s fashion scene. Our only hope is that he gives back to his home country at some point, using his perspective to help build Zimbabwe’s fashion industry.
You can stay tapped in to Tinashe’s journey on his personal Instagram. You can also check out his imprint ACE for styling inspo and curation tips.
