If you go to the Matobo area in Matebeleland today, one thing is sure to catch your eye.
As we enter spring, it is the homesteads that are a hive of activity—women using natural paint to adorn their homes in alluring patterns . When the rainy season arrives, the artworks are washed away; together with their memory. If you go back to the same area next year this time, you will still find the women painting their homes; albeit in completely different patterns.
It took a collaborative project between the Fashion Council of Zimbabwe and the German Embassy to Zimbabwe for the art that these women create to remain etched within our realm. Dubbed The Matobo Goes Fashion Project, the initiative took the patterns painted by the Matobo women over two summers, printed them on fabric; and took on a cohort of designers from across Zimbabwe to make pieces using the fabric.
The fashion collections were showcased at the National Gallery in Bulawayo earlier this year, before making their way to a Harare runway in May—at Friendship Bench in Mt Pleasant. As an extension of their support, the German Embassy then selected two designers from the Project for a six-week internship in Berlin; on top of a front-row seat to the Berlin Fashion Week.
One of two is Charmaine Nziradzemhuka, founder and Head Designer at Char Designz.
At just 28, Charmaine has built Char Designz into a well sought-after brand; featuring on runways that most still hope to appear on. From I Wear My Culture, to last year’s Afro T10 Fashion Show, to March’s Creative Economy Week; Char Designz is rising fast on its insistence on slowing down fashion.
We caught up with Charmaine as soon as she touched down to capture her newfound perspective from the Berlin experience. Our conversation touched on the takeaways from her six weeks in Germany, as well as Char Designz vision and future. Enjoy!
Hey Charmaine. You’re fresh off the plane, full of memories and lessons. Describe your six-week internship at a top Berlin fashion house?
The internship program was a great experience! We got to meet new people from various backgrounds, Russia, Bulgaria and all over Europe.
We got to visit Impari Moda, a top fashion brand based in Berlin and headed by Jana Heinemann. Her approach to sustainable fashion was eye opening. Her use of plastics and fabric waste to make clothes was interesting and the use of sustainable thread was fascinating.
We also went to the PRESS FACTORY, a PR and Communications agency who just so happened to be launching their magazine when we visited. We attended the Press Event and also got to witness editorial shoots for the magazine. I fell in love with their creativity and freedom of expression in their work.
What was your experience like witnessing Berlin Fashion Week 2025?
The highlight of Berlin Fashion Week for me was Orange Culture, a Nigerian brand founded by Adebayo Okelawal.
Getting a glimpse of that show really showed me that anything is possible. Working backstage looking at the level of quality and craftsmanship of his work was inspiring. It has motivated me to elevate the way I construct and finish my own garments, so I can also be able to compete on the global stage. I got to speak to Bayo himself after the show, and the insights I got from him were quite enlightening.
What I really loved about the attendees is that they really appreciate African Fashion and will support emerging African talent.
Collections from the German designers were really well-made. It took them months to make just three good quality garments. Fashion has become so fast paced and people want quality but are not willing to wait for the time it takes or embrace designs that come from the designer’s head. I realized that quality fashion really takes time, precision and dedication.
Any notable takeaways from the experience? Do you think your time in Berlin will influence your design going forward?
What Berlin taught me can be summed up as—quality, sustainability and slow fashion. These are considered core pillars in German fashion and although this approach takes time, the results over time speak for themselves. Seeing that being embedded in the way they do life and in their way of design was important for my perspective as a designer.
Sustainability as not just a mantra, but a way of living, makes the difference.
Another thing that caught my eye was how accommodating German designers are to their customers. You would visit a retail store and see at least three sizes of each look on display. This is something I barely considered before, but now I know I have to.
Going forward, I will make sure that my work is of the highest quality as I always have, but now I understand it needs its time. While the creative freedom and artistic expression I witnessed was just freeing in every way, ultimately the experience was validation that I am on the right path.
What do you think about Berlin’s fashion scene, and how does it compare to other major fashion capitals around the world?
I love how Berlin is paving its own way. It’s also in the beginning stages, but will be a fashion force in the future. They are still in the delicate phases but they are growing even in terms of consumer behaviour and are adopting sustainable ways to shop.
The creative freedom, innovation and sustainability is what differentiates Berlin fashion from its counterparts. It’s a place open for experimentation and provocation. It’s more of the question why they wear fashion not what fashion they wear. It’s more about fashion with a meaning, something that I have been wanting to implement for a long time.
Zim fashion finds itself in a renaissance period. What can we take from German fashion for us to grow even further?
I believe being authentic in who we are will set us apart. In doing so, Zim fashion will pave its own way and shape its own narrative.
It’s also important for designers to formalize their operations. The formalization of fashion businesses may help the industry move forward as our contribution to the economy becomes recognized. Government and other institutions will easily partner up with formal businesses for assistance in a range of matters like training, market access and rigorous quality checks that benchmark global standards.
In Germany, the fashion industry has partnered with the State Secretary of Economic Affairs, who have recognized that the largest producing industry in Berlin is the creative economy. They have placed it under their overall economic policy.
Globally, fashion is tackling the big questions of sustainability, transformation and diversity. Its time for Zim fashion to catch up to the rest of the world, and in doing so, it will become easier to find support from the powers that be.
What words do you have for the German Embassy to Zimbabwe and Fashion Council of Zimbabwe for making this possible?
This cultural exchange program would not have been possible without the support of the German Embassy to Zimbabwe and the Fashion Council of Zimbabwe.
I would like to thank and I would like to thank the German Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Udo Voltz, as well as Katrin Simon at the German Embassy Harare.
Last but not least, my gratitude goes to Joyce Chimanye and the Fashion Council of Zimbabwe for this eye-opening experience.
Now you’re back in Zimbabwe and ready to continue scaling heights with your brand. Tell us more about Char Designz?
I founded Char Designz in 2021, and we operate out of Harare, in Msasa and Greendale.
We mainly focus on collections accompanied by narratives that invite customers to share their own memories and interpretations, fostering a sense of connection and collective healing. We also do custom orders for customers that love our aesthetic but they are seeking a unique look for themselves.
Our major aesthetic is a blend of Poetic Minimalism, which uses soft, natural fabrics that feel comforting and personal paired, and Artisanal Authenticity, a cerebration of craftsmanship and slow fashion. Most of our collections feature hand-dyed fabrics and one-of-a-kind details.
Char Designz goes beyond fashion—it’s a journey of memories, healing, and meaningful conversations. Each piece we create carries a story that empowers and connects people, making wearing our clothes more than just a style choice. When you wear our clothes, you embody a legacy that inspires and unites, transforming fashion into an empowering experience.
What inspired you to get into fashion, and how was the fashion scene like when you started. What has the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
I realized it was a gift. When I started out, I desired to tell stories and fashion became that medium for me. During those days, the fashion scene was promising. You could tell it was the beginning of a big wave.
My biggest challenge has been getting people to understand what ‘fashion designer’ and ‘sustainable fashion’ really means. People are used to fast fashion, which is why you see almost everyone ends up looking the same. I want the customers to recognize and appreciate that fashion design takes time. The process of experimentation and creating something original may take time, but the fashion that is timeless.
You have participated in the Matobo Goes Fashion project, as well as the ‘I Wear My Culture’ initiative. How does your heritage influence your design?
Zimbabwe has a powerful heritage and history. I believe there are beautiful stories to tell about our land and its people. These stories need to be told and I believe they can be best told through fashion. I wish to see our people wear their own heritage, that’s how we can preserve our culture and share it with the world.
You’ve managed to build Char Designz into a formidable brand on the Zim fashion scene. And within just half a decade! What’s been the biggest secret to your success?
It’s a delicate cocktail of consistency, hard work, showing up to the best of my abilities, continuously refining my craft and vision, and educating myself everyday.
I have also realized it’s important to run my own race, walking through the journey with self-belief. Even in the hard moments, I tell myself to never quit and keep going.
It hasn’t been a totally lonely road. I am forever grateful for the emotional and mental support I get from my family when I need it the most.
What can we expect from Char Designz in SS25?
Expect to see growth.
We are releasing a collection named Runyayaro, inspired by people who are searching for peace and illustrating memory through the Zimbabwean lens.
As you know, it is our tradition that when passes away, their clothes are given away to their loved ones. The surviving relatives wear those clothes as a means of finding peace and as a way of remembrance of that certain individual.
That’s where the inspiration for this collection is coming from.
We’ll be definitely looking forward to this phase! Thank you for granting us this interview, Charmaine!
You’re welcome! And thank you for preserving the memory of our work.
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