There’s no pain like dreaming big whilst living in a small town. At some point, one will be left with two choices—move to the big city or conform to the realities.
The first option takes bravery while the second option is a quiet capitulation. But as we’ve come to accept, there’s always exceptions.
Hailing from the idyllic town of Marondera, Ruvarashe Mutsinze is proving you can dream big and do it big without having to move to the big cities. Over the past three years, she has built a name for herself on the runways with her brand called PLANET AVUR.
PLANET AVUR blends art, sustainability and style to deliver exquisite pieces made for the runway. If you haven’t figured it out already, the brand’s name is a reverse spelling of its Creative Director’s name. Having recently finished her undergraduate degree in Cloud Computing and Internet of Things (IOT), the 24 year-old is ready to go all the way and make a viable career out of her passion.
We caught up with the creative mind to talk about the roots, the runways and the radical rebrand coming our way. Enjoy!
Hie Ruva, thank you sparing your time to sit down with us!
You are welcome, and thank you for the opportunity!
Let’s start with the basics. Tell us about your brand, PLANET AVUR?
PLANET AVUR is a wearable art brand I founded in 2022. It specialises in creating fashion that combines hand-drawn elements, experimental construction and recycled materials.
I create pieces that transform and challenge traditional silhouettes, with a strong focus on sustainability, storytelling, and customization.
What inspires you as a designer?
It all depends on who or what I’m designing for. I like making stuff that I feel like I would be happy wearing or if I saw someone wearing that I would think it’s cool.
When it’s for a showcase, I try creating to match my audiences but I also have to stay true to what I like.
Coming back to the brand, how many collections have you released so far?
I have released five collections so far. Most of them are made from recycled or upcycled clothing—thrifted finds, deconstructed garments, or things that would have ended up in a landfill.
I love the challenge of reinventing something that has been discarded into something new.
When did fashion first speak to you?
When I watched my first episode of Project Runway.
I was still in primary school, and I had this little journal where I would draw dresses. They always made really cool stuff on the show, and watching them work made me want to pursue fashion too.
When I got to high school and had to choose a practical subject, I saw “Fashion and Fabrics” on the list. I was so excited, thinking it would be like Project Runway, but my dreams quickly died down. It was not anything like I had imagined at all (laughs).
What happened in high school?
Well, we were learning basic stuff. We were not allowed to express our creativity as we all had the same fabric and had to make identical things. We would spend a whole year making one shirt.
How uninspiring! So, what revived the dream?
Discovering The Fabrik Party.
Back in Marondera, there was not much of a fashion scene it’s just the usual—tailors making uniforms and roora outfits. Coming to the Fabrik Party and seeing people my age designing, showcasing and pushing fashion forward gave me hope. I started creating just to showcase there, and I did. Over the years, I just made a collection specifically for the Fabrik party showcase.
I recently participated in the Creative DNA program and it changed my perspective on a lot of things. I learnt that I can actually make a living off fashion, not just doing it for the love of it.
And how many times have you showcased at the Fabrik Party?
Three times. My first ever show was the December 2022 Fabrik Party held at Gratermans Building. That was my first time presenting a collection in public, and it was surreal. Since then, it’s become part of my yearly ritual. At last year’s edition, I showcased a collection called House of Cards.
Most recently, I showcased at the Vic Falls Food and Wine Festival on 31 May. The fashion show was co-curated by Skeyi and Strobo.
The Vic Falls show was your first runway of the year. Tell us about that experience?
Showcasing in Victoria Falls was really fun, I was just happy to be there. I got to show AVUR in a new context, outside the usual city art spaces, and that was powerful.
The experience in itself was empowering. It showed me that the brand can travel, adapt, and still stay true to its message. It really motivated me to do more and do better.
The energy was completely different, and all the designers brought their A-game. It’s always exciting to hang out with people who share the same dreams as you because you get to learn so much. Meeting the Vic Falls designers, models, and dancers was cool too and they got a great thing going on.
In the bigger picture, how has your Fabrik Party experience impacted you as a creative?
Fabrik Party was a major turning point It showed me that the vision makes sense — that there’s a space for my kind of fashion. After that, I felt more confident approaching other platforms and started thinking bigger.
Last year, you also managed to feature at the inaugural edition of Upcycling Lab. What did you like the most about the platform?
The Upcycling Lab helped me dive deeper into the sustainability message behind PLANET AVUR. I had the chance to engage with an audience that cared about the process as much as the product.
I also got to meet new designers who motivated me to improve. One of them is now my garment construction mentor.
Ultimately, what have runway shows done for PLANET AVUR’s progression?
They helped build both credibility and visibility. Each show pushes me to do better as a designer and reminds me of why I started.
I have managed to build quite the portfolio because of the work I have done at these shows; and that is what got me into the Creative DNA cohort.
Your pieces often blend art and fashion—wearable art as you call it. Why that approach to design?
I really like when I combine those two things because I love them both equally. Any piece which I make then draw on is probably my favourite because I spend a lot of time on it.
It’s a fun way to grow and learn as an artist on both fronts. You get to see which paint works with what, which art supply brands you should avoid using, all that. The more I learn, the better my brand becomes.
PLANET AVUR turns 3 this summer. Can you describe the journey so far?
It’s been intense but fulfilling. Every collection feels like a new chapter, and even the mistakes have taught me something. I’ve learned to trust the process more.
And do you like the path you’re on?
Yes! It feels experimental but intentional—I’m not rushing into mass production or following trends. I love that AVUR is growing organically and building a loyal community around expression and sustainability.
You’re based in Marondera, where there’s not much of a creative scene. Would you consider relocating to Harare for your career’s sake?
Hmm no. I really like the peaceful environment in Marondera, it’s conducive for creating. I only come to Harare if I have business to attend to, its not like it’s far.
If I do get financially stable I might consider moving to Harare, but its not a top priority for me right now.
We’re now getting into Spring/Summer ‘25. What can we expect from PLANET AVUR for the rest of the year?
Expect our three-tier rebranding, we shall be launching three collections that represent the core values of PLANET AVUR: Art, Reinvention, and Recycling/Upcycling.
The first will be our recycled collection, the second will be our ready-to-wear line, and the third will be our art-focused capsule. I can’t wait to share this next phase of PLANET AVUR with you guys!
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