In Zimbabwe, fashion in itself is a bold pursuit.
Consider that over half of the working population earns less than USD300 per month. Consider that the country has become a dumping ground for cheap counterfeits of foreign brands and second-hand clothing from the Global North. Consider that to most, fashion is an afterthought; seen as going above and beyond the core purpose of clothing—covering one’s nether regions.
All these socioeconomic realities have slowed progress towards a viable fashion industry in Zimbabwe. But still, a few visionaries toil on—trailblazers bent on leaving the Zimbabwean fashion industry better than they found it.
One of these few is Bulawayo-based Kudzai Rwomwenye, founder and Creative Director of DRMSRLTY (pronounced Dreams Reality).
“We stylized the brand name by removing vowels so it’s spelt DRMSRLTY. The name is a complete statement in itself, it just comes from wanting to live the life that you dream about,” Rwomwenye broke down the meaning behind the name as we begun our interview.
DRMSRLTY first took shape in late 2019 as a passion project; but over time, the brand evolved towards a grand vision and a bigger purpose. “We made our very first t-shirt in late 2019 but the Covid pandemic deterred progress. During that time, I just continued designing for friends and family only. I’d say in 2022 that’s when we started going commercial,” recalled Rwomwenye.
The brand was born during the peak of the Off-White era, when the late Virgil Abloh was dominating global streetwear fashion. At the time, Rwomwenye was inspired by the creative legend to carve out his own path and create a brand closer to home.
“I got inspired to start DRMSRLTY around the time when Virgil Abloh was popping. Those days, Off-White had the streets on lock even here in Bulawayo. Seeing all the designs he (Abloh) was coming up with, I just wanted to wear something different; something I could relate to,” he explained.
Since going commercial in 2022, the brand kept the streets fed with a series of drops, mainly t-shirts. Rwomwenye’s creative process is driven by his reality, drawing from his and his city’s everyday experiences. This is what has kept DRMSRLTY relatable to its core market in Bulawayo.
Three years after going commercial and half a decade from humble beginnings, DRMSRLTY reached a key milestone in June 2025—a debut collection and a new logo.
DRMSRLTY’s new logo is a monochrome icon that represents a cloud, as Rwomwenye explained, “It’s inspired by the clouds in the sky. In our world, the sky is not the limit, but the starting point.”
While the logo marks a new era, the debut collection is a bold statement of intent—DRMSRLTY is a gamechanger in Byo streetwear fashion.
Titled ‘From The Concrete Grew a Rose,’ the capsule collection covers all the bases; featuring t-shirts, crop tops, jorts, cargo skirts, tote bags, five panel caps and bucket hats.
The collection comes in a sleek monochromatic colour scheme and is a variety of pieces made from denim, cotton and polyester fabric. While the graphics on the tees and tops did justice, Rwomwenye also cleverly used reverse stitching to add detail to the denim pieces.
Speaking on the inspiration behind the collection, he said; “The collection is inspired by everyday ordinary people doing extraordinary things against all odds.
“Imagine a young man juggling life’s responsibilities and expectations but still keeping their head high or a lady in a male-dominated industry going above and beyond just to make a name for herself and managing to come out on top. These are the roses in our communities, growing from the concrete. And this collection is for them.”
DRMSRLTY’s first five years have been marked by trials and tribulations—from a dream to delays and now a debut collection. The journey has not been an easy one, but Rwomwenye stays energized by the support he receives from what he considers “the family,” including some high profile names like Curtis Dee Rovar and Blvck For3v3r.
“We have grown over the years and managed to get good reviews from those who have joined the family. We’ve also had a chance to dress some Bulawayo artists for their performances and music videos,” he shared.
As a parting shot, the 26 year-old gave us a defining statement of what DRMSRLTY represents, envisions and executes.
“These are not just regular clothes, these are fabric pieces curated for the trailblazers— the ones who don’t just wait for life to happen but ultimately those that get up, grab life by the horns and get what’s theirs, those who will change the game and leave their mark on this world,” concluded Rwomwenye.
DRMSRLTY, like most homegrown fashion brands, is doing it against all odds. Inspired by a dream to see a better reality for Zim fashion, they have elevated their game through the years.
Dare we say, homegrown brands are inching closer to the global benchmark—distinct logos, lucid vision, capsule collections, solid execution. Their value can no longer be denied and their call for support should no longer be ignored.
You can follow DRMSRLTY on Instagram and on their WhatsApp channel to stay tapped in to the Bulawayo streetwear brand as we approach summer. Want a piece from the ‘From The Concrete Grew a Rose’ collection? Place your order here, pieces start from just USD5.
