The Zimbabwean fashion industry has survived in different forms over the years.
From independence up to the nineties, it is the retailers that defined Zim fashion. Our parents and grandparents got their style from Edgars, Greatermans, Topics, and Truworths.
The economic crisis at the turn of the century destroyed whatever fashion industry that might have existed prior. A currency collapse and worsening international relations ravaged core industries like mining and agriculture, wiping disposable incomes.
Since those days and for close to two decades that followed, fashion was relegated to an afterthought—the nation had bigger things to worry about. To their credit people like Priscilla Chigariro, Danayi Madondo, and Joyce Chimanye (to mention a few) worked tirelessly to keep the industry alive in dire times.
As we entered the 2020’s, whether by design or by coincidence; a new generation picked up fashion. Exposed to the world by social media and yearning for creative expression, they have essentially redefined Zim fashion and brought about a renaissance era.
This renaissance era benchmarks the closest to world fashion, and makes for a strong foundation for Zim fashion. It is up to us as the industry players to continue catching up with the world in what we do. In that vein of thought, it is in our best interest to make sense of what we do as an evolving community. As the country’s leading fashion blog, we have taken it upon ourselves to devise a ‘Zim Fashion Calendar’.
This simple and consistent model sets the precedent for the next stage of the renaissance—standardization. The industry grows faster and documentation becomes easier if there is such a consensus among industry players.
To create our Zim Fashion Calendar, we have broken down the calendar year into two seasons—Summer/Spring (SS) and Autumn/Winter(AW). This is nothing new, brands and platforms in the Global North already use this format to mark their releases. In the Global North, however, releases are done a season ahead of time. Take for example, Dior which just showcased its SS26 collection in June—over six months ahead of Season.
Let’s be real, forcing Zim fashion to follow such a regiment would actually be detrimental. A realistic approach in the Zimbabwean context, then, would be to match the releases with the seasons.
Thus, this week marks the beginning of our Summer/Spring ‘25 season—running for five months until 31 December 2025. The Autumn/Winter ‘26 season will run for five months from 1 February 2026 to 30 June 2026.
January becomes the SS break-month and July is the AW break-month. The one-month breaks between seasons allow industry players to rest from the preceding season as well as prepare for the upcoming season.
Well, lesson time is over; let’s get into why you really clicked on this article! Here’s what we’re looking forward to the most in SS25.
The Events
On paper and in the bigger picture, Zim fashion’s impact has been a drop in the ocean. Understandably so, the economy and the perception have made it a slow but sure ascend for an industry which was dormant for decades.
On the ground, however, the gatherings have kept the fire burning and changed the game. It is the events that initially resuscitated the industry and nurtured it to the totting toddler it has become. Here’s six events we’re looking forward to the most in Spring/Summer ‘25:
Thrift Day
In early July, Babwe founder and creative director Lesley Manokore announced that he was back in his homeland; mulling a giveaway sale of old merch to his fellow fashionable countrymen. In just 5 years, Manokore has built Babwe into a internationally acclaimed, distinctly Zimbabwean brand. It was only right that he gives back to his roots in some way.
Three weeks later, fans of Babwe got more than they expected—an entire event called THRIFT DAY centered around the giveaway. Scheduled for 9 August at Theatre in the Park, the daytime event is a celebration of thrift culture and homegrown creativity.
Babwe will be giving away all their old merch for just $5; while one lucky attendee will get to win their first release of SS25, the Babwe jersey.
Popular Harare thrift stores Grayville Thrift, Sickwear Thrift, and Tripple Tee Clothing will be there supplying authentic, stylish, sustainable fashion. The superstars’ stylist Obey The Stylist will also be providing combos on the day. A beautiful blend of trailblazing brands like Soleil and The Eth and some budding brands like Rebel Streetwear, Croshe, and GFG will be participating in a never-seen-before showcase worth looking forward to.
As for the entertainment, songstress SAIIREN’s soothing voice will ease revelers into the sunset, while rapper CHOMUKOBODO has the honour of getting the crowd going. If you were at Upcycling Lab last year, you know he’ll deliver.
You might know him as superstar model Jacob Dinha, but on 9 August he’ll be just jD. The 26 year old started exploring his musical side late last year; and at THRIFT DAY, he’ll be there to “serenade the ladies,” as he mentioned to us.
Another name you might not have come across is Hylee, but her soulful voice will surely enthrall you. On the decks will be acclaimed producer Calvinmadeit and rising female DJ NK. doombot.
This event caught our eyes because of its insistence on giving emerging creatives a platform to shine. When one is starting out, opportunities are far and few, as they are usually reserved for the established names. An event where the majority are young creatives provides a healthy space for development and collaboration.
Of course, the opportunity to finally own some Babwe merch is what most fashionistas are really looking forward to! Get your advance tickets to be part of Zim fashion history.
Fabrik Party Convention
You can’t speak about Zim fashion’s renaissance without mentioning the Fabrik Party. A product of the Skeyi and Strobo collective, the event has risen to become Zimbabwe’s foremost gathering of creatives in 10 editions since 2020.
Last year, the Fabrik Party made history by hosting its first ever edition outside the country’s borders in Zambia. This was followed by a stop over in Bulawayo, on the way to the second edition of the Fabrik Party Convention—a three day soiree of creative expression full of conversations, fashion and music. Brands like Soleil, RED PLANET, Rogue n Roll, Pezzeculiar, and of course Icatha shut down the runway; making the event yet another moment in Zim fashion history.
This year’s edition of the Fabrik Party Convention is set for 24-26 October at Alliance Franchaise de Harare. Last week, South African artist Muzi was announced as the music headliner, a first for the Fabrik Party Convention.
There’s not much left to prove, but fashionistas will still anticipate the Convention to take it to the next level as it has done in previous editions. Advance tickets are already on sale, with one-day and two-day pass options available.
Edgars Fashion Extravaganza
It might not garner the same mainstream appeal it did in the eighties, but Edgars Stores Ltd remains a giant in the fashion industry. Zimbabwe’s oldest clothing retailer manufactures its own in-house brands at its Carousel factory in Bulawayo, while also employing thousands along the cotton and clothing value chain.
To add to that, the blue-chip company also supports budding designers through its Fashion Extravaganza event. Originally intended as a preview of Edgars’ in house brand collections, the Extravaganza has grown to become a highly anticipated showcase of the best that Zimbabwean fashion has to offer.
Last year, we witnessed top-notch design from brands like House of Paruchi, Abeah Authentic, Ceca Couture and Lil Thato Passion. Some of these brands are now being sold in select Edgars Stores across the country.
This year, the Extravaganza returns for its 14th edition, having already made a callout for designers. As always, expect the best of Zimbabwean haute couture and the development of selected homegrown brands.
The Edgars Fashion Extravaganza remains one to watch out for as it represents the synergy between traditional fashion and new age fashion. As Edgars gets an understanding of where Zim fashion is headed, the designers who are taking it there get their introduction to the corporate side of fashion.
Upcycling Lab
On 9 November 2024, the inaugural edition of Upcyling Lab was held at Zimbabwe German Society. A brainchild of multifaceted creative Que The Artist, the event was a fresh take on creative events; blending music and fashion while pushing sustainability.
Showcases from Totem byBeth J, PLANET AVUR and NinetyNine Wear remain etched in our minds for their making fashion sustainable. To top it off, performances from rapper CHOMUKOBODO, songstress SAIIREN and Que The Artist himself made it a night to remember.
This year, we are anticipating a return of Upcycling Lab for the second edition, considering that the event provided somewhat of a blueprint for what fashion events should be like in Zimbabwe. In 2025, most events follow the Upcycling Lab format.
It remains to be seen whether the organizers of the event are content with just being an inspiration, or are keen to continue pushing the envelope of creativity in the city.
Miss UZ 2025
The flagship pageant at Zimbabwe’s oldest and largest tertiary institution is always something we anticipate! Miss UZ has become a career launchpad for dozens of today’s superstar models, and we can’t wait to see which names emerge this year.
Traditionally, the pageant is hosted during the Autumn/Winter semester around April. This year, however, the event has been postponed to the Spring/Summer semester around October. This has raised the stakes for what promises to be an unforgettable edition of Miss UZ.
As the semester begins in mid-August, ambitious students will on the lookout for the Auditions call. As for Mcheno and More, we’ll be keen to document the pageant even better than we did in 2024.
Zimbabwe Fashion Week
After last year’s fiasco, all eyes are on the Zimbabwe Fashion Week Trust to dust themselves off and deliver an unforgettable Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2025. Judging from the activities in AW25, the Trust might just surprise us and deliver a spectacular showcase at the third time of asking.
In March, a new seven member Advisory Board for the Trust was announced; featuring notable figures like Plot Mhako, Valerie Kabov and Yvonne Mtengwa. In May, 8-12 October were announced as the official dates for ZFW25; plus a new venue partner in the form of Hyatt Regency Harare The Miekles.
For us, that was enough to cast aside any doubts of yet another controversial Zimbabwe Fashion Week. This year’s edition promises to be the most refined version of Zimbabwe’s most significant fashion and urban culture event, and we’ll be there to cover every moment of it!
The Fashion, of course
Mcheno and More wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the fashionistas giving their all to build an industry from the ashes. Since 2022, we have introduced you to over 100 names and brands taking Zim fashion further, forming the foundation of our mandate.
We tapped into our database and knocked on ten designer’s doors to get a feel of what Spring/Summer ‘25 will come with for Zim fashion.
Soleil
Ropafadzo Mapira’s ambition and dedication has been the secret ingredient to Soleil’s astronomical rise. The sustainable fashion brand has emerged as one of the stars of the renaissance, bench-marking global brands to a tee.
A solid identity, a distinct aesthetic, consistent releases, fruitful collaborations; Soleil has managed to tick the essential boxes. The brand has already promised their first ready-to-wear collection in SS25, and we caught up with Kuki (as she’s affectionately known) for all the dets:
You already teased a ready-to-wear collection with a cozy playlist back in June. What aesthetic did you go for with this new collection?
For this collection, I wanted to stay grounded in Soleil’s essence—cultural clothing with lore, storytelling you can wear.
The aesthetic is warm, textural, and soft, but still carries a quiet strength. I leaned into boxy silhouettes, blending structured and flowy fabrics to reflect both comfort and presence. There’s a subtle simplicity to the pieces made for the everyday, but laced with meaning.
When I look at the collection, it feels like nostalgia made wearable. The playlist was the first layer, a sonic moodboard to set the tone. The clothes come next, a physical extension of that sound. Cozy and coded.
You’ve been doing mainly runway pieces and one-of-one customs. Why do you feel like this summer is the perfect time to give us a ready-to-wear collection?
I’ve been in a deeply reflective space, growing as a person and as a brand. With the runway and custom pieces (which I’m still deeply committed to), the focus was on building a strong identity and community around SOLEIL. I wanted people to feel something, to see the story, the spirit, the soul behind the clothes.
This summer felt like the right moment to lay something foundational. A ready-to-wear collection that symbolises both where we’ve come from and where we’re going. It’s my way of making SOLEIL more inclusive and accessible, something that can live beyond the spotlight in the streets, the markets, the everyday lives of people in Harare and across Zimbabwe.
I wanted to give people something soft, intentional, and real. Clothes that feel like they were made for them for who they are right now, in this place, in this story we’re all still writing.
Suchi Nuchi
A new logo and the minimalist Small Text Edition is all Suchi Nuchi managed to deliver in AW25, but it was all that was needed. The streetwear brand finds itself in a period of reinvention, and it remains to be seen if it will reach its final form this summer. We caught up with Shella, the man behind Suchi Nuchi, for these quick questions:
Earlier this year, you came through with a rebrand and a new collection. What’s in store for Suchi Nuchi’s SS25?
We’re giving you an early drop of brand jerseys, as we are now venturing into sportswear. We are going to start with two colourways, pink and black, then an ‘Ultimate Jersey’ later in the season. We are also going to continue with the graphic tees drop we promised earlier this year.
A new logo in winter and now two different collections for the summer. Why all this reinvention?
This rebrand is an attempt at keeping it simple and also correcting mistakes we made before such as poor stocking and irregular releases. In dropping these two collections this season, we are trying to explain who we are as a clothing and sportswear brand.
PLANET AVUR
Ruvarashe Mutsinze continues to make Marondera proud with her sustainable-fashion brand PLANET AVUR. Having found herself on big stages at such early stages, the only way is up for the 24 year-old.
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As AW25 drew to a close, PLANET AVUR announced the ZERO DOLLARS collection, a sort of prelude to the summer. We just had to catch up with Ruva to get a peek into the vision for PLANET AVUR’s SS25, and here’s what we found out:
We’re getting into the Spring/Summer ‘25. What’s the major focus for PLANET AVUR this season?
This season’s emphasis is on connecting with our people. We plan to achieve this through pop-up appearances, collaborations, and a fresh emphasis on wearable art pieces that double as statement looks and conversation starters.
I’m also hoping to be part of a few regional events, but the focus is definitely on connecting directly with our audience this season.
Any specific drop that fans can look forward to?
Yes, there’s a drop coming! It will be the launch of our ready to wear line. It’s a continuation of our ‘ZERO DOLLARS’ series, which started out of creative instinct and resourcefulness.
The upcoming collection focuses on our second design aspect, which is minimalistic structural reinvention .The collection will have my signature laced pants and other staple PLANET AVUR pieces.
Kikings Wearables
Kikings Wearables made history last year as one of the few brands that walked the Zimbabwe Fashion Week runway. For a streetwear brand that made its name from denim upcycling, these were dizzying heights.
Regardless of the cringeworthy end to ZFW24, the showcase provided Kikings with the fuel to go corporate and also cross borders. We caught up with Keith Chikumbu, head honcho at Kikings, for these quick questions:
You’ve been pushing corporate wear since the beginning of the year. Does this mean Kikings the Upcycling brand is dead?
Kikings the Upcycling brand is fully alive! We see Summer/Spring as our upcycling season, in Autumn/Winter, we’ll be more focused on corporate wear to maximise returns and make the business thrive.
As much as we love to see the enterprise going the brand way fully, there is need to analyze market trends and check consumer patterns so that we balance all the opportunities that the fashion value chain offers.
Okay so this means it’s going to be a busy SS25 for you. What are you planning for us?
For SS25, we’ll be releasing a collection that blends avante garde with denim upcycling, further cementing our position in sustainable fashion. The SS25 will feature fashion objects and go the avante garde way but spearheading upcycling in it. We dont want to lose the repurposing of old, tattered-and-torn-jeans norm since its the one which made us enter into the fashion game.
People can expect the collection some time around end of October, or early November because our idea is to release the collection during the forthcoming Braam Fashion Week SS 2025 in Johannesburg, highlighting our dedication to view fashion as borderless.
The Eth
The Eth remains one of the leaders of environmentally-conscious fashion in Zimbabwe, and this year has been a continuation on that path.
They started off the year with a drop of five-panel caps, a collaboration with UK-based brand Swanky Michael; followed by the Global Gloves collection released in June.
As we get into SS25, the brand is set to feature at Babwe THRIFT DAY. We caught up with creative director Ngaatendwe Mapako to break down The Eth’s year so far, as well as preview what’s next:
Seven months into the year and you’ve already given us two releases. Describe your 2025 so far?
2025 is not the kind of year to harvest throughout. It’s more of going down to the roots, pruning and maintaining ourselves and this growing garden we call The Eth.
And what can we expect from The Eth in Spring/Summer ‘25?
Let me give you a riddle (laughs). We’ve got some space for you to watch, and a web for your site. I hope you caught that!
Tripple Tee
In the six months since opening shop, Harare’s Fresh Prince of Denim has effectively taken over the fashion scene in the heart of city. His basement shop at Chiyedza House is now essentially a sanctuary for fashionistas.
We caught up with the humble 24 year old amidst preps for Babwe THRIFT DAY, where he’s set to feature, and gave him these two questions:
You’ve found your feet in Harare this year, well done! This might have come at the cost of more Tripple Tee Clothing Store and less Tripple Tee The Designer. Will that change in Spring/Summer ’25?
Nothing really changed with Tripple Tee, we are still in the same line of streetwear. However, this winter we decided to rebrand so as to give ourself time for perfectionism in preparation of this coming summer.
Let me assure you, we are coming through with some golden pieces in SS25!
You’ll be featuring at Babwe THRIFT DAY 2025, after being off the events scene for a while. What can people expect from Tripple Tee on 9 August?
I’m so excited to be back outside after such a long time! Shout out to Babwe for giving us a platform to shine.
At THRIFT DAY, expect hidden gems, one-of-a-kind treasures and Platinum Thrift from Tripple Tee. On the day is when you’ll understand what I mean by Platinum Thrift (laughs). We are also going to be offering styling consultancy to the people.
New Image Kingdom
In the four years since launch, New Image Kingdom (NIK) has risen to become Bulawayo’s definitive wearable art brand. Having mastered upcycling denims and painting alluring artworks onto the fabric, the trio continues to evolve further, evident in their Heaven on Earth collection released Late last year.
This year they have continued on their upwards trajectory, featuring at events like Y2K Identity and Fusion Fiesta, while dressing some of Bulawayo’s top entertainers. We caught up with Keith The Gifted, head designer at NIK, for an update on this evergrowing brand:
You recently moved into Studio 3 at the National Gallery in Bulawayo, congratulations on the big move! Why did you feel like this is the perfect time to have a physical location?
We’ve managed to feature at so many shows over the years and this has helped us with visibility and gaining a customer base. One question people kept asking us at these shows was, “where are you based?”
Of course, we were operating out of a home studio but I realized people need to visit you and see how you operate. I recently took a break from my day job to pursue clothing full time, and that’s why I felt like this is the perfect time to start working in the city. I felt it’s important to connect with the customers in that sense.
We’ll be offering a range of services like screen printing, fabric and shoe customizing, paintings, and flyer design.
What can we expect from NIK in SS25?
We’ll be coming through with a collection of denim skirts, ties, trousers, and tote bags called ‘REBORN by Keith.The.Gifted.’ Why REBORN?
All these years, we have been working on NIK but we weren’t operating at the level we want to be at. This was mainly due to the fact that we had to balance out our day jobs with the craft.
Right now, we have all the time to implement ideas and create, so it feels like NIK has been reborn in that sense. We are waking up to just go create and put our energy into NIK.
Juluka
With close to a decade in the game, Juluka Co has become a core part of Bulawayo’s fashion and entertainment culture. They essentially introduced the concept of sneaker care to the city, and now they can be found at Bulawayo’s hottest events like Garden of House (GoH) and House in the CBD.
That’s not all—Juluka has been slowly building its clothing catalogue, from last year’s Juluka golfers to this year’s “Sweat for It’ tees. This is not some opportunistic move, but something that Juluka always meant to do. As we get into SS25, we caught up with Juluka frontman Bangane for these quick questions:
You’ve evolved from a sneaker care collective to a diverse fashion enterprise in 2 years. This always part of your plan, but why start with sneaker care?
From the start, Juluka has always been a streetwear brand, the sneaker care aspect was more of a fundraising initiative. We established Juluka Sneaker Care to avoid the financing problems that most brands face when starting out. We are glad to have introduced sneaker care culture to the city.
Your “Sweat For It” tees got the Byo streets buzzing! What are you cooking for us in SS25?
This summer, we’re gonna be dropping some merch but it’s something different. Merch is mostly used as a canvas to showcase one’s brand but I feel like for a brand to have merch, it has to be promoting something. Just like an artist pushing their album with some merch while on tour.
Expect something towards the end of the year, to push what we wanna introduce to the market. I won’t say much for now, but we’re aiming to elevate the game with this.
If-Acted
At 43 years old, Buhle Moyo has been there for it all—from the dark days to this glistening renaissance we find ourselves in. Regardless, he has managed to keep a fresh perspective and open mind, leading If-Acted from the shadows into a well sought-after brand.
As we get into SS25, these were the most burning questions on our minds for If-Acted’s creative director.
You were supposed to showcase at ZFW24, before it was unfortunately cut short. Can we expect to see you on the runway this October?
Yes I’ll be definitely be showcasing! I’m already putting the collection together.
If-Acted prides itself as a diverse brand which you cannot box into one specific aesthetic. What aesthetic are you going for in SS25?
That’s true, and this season we’ll be continuing in that direction. In terms of aesthetic, expect more natural fabric and vibrant colors as well. We’ll be exploring both menswear and womenswear, so the range will be quite diverse.
The story behind our SS25 is about humans being the next technology we’ve been waiting for. The looks will be futuristic, as we’re going for an “end game” kind of vision. I can’t wait to show you this era of If-Acted!
Stolen Pieces
Stolen Pieces’ influence in Bulawayo is undeniable. IMPISI (as fans of the brand are called) have become more than just fashionheads, they’re a movement bent on creating their own rules for style. And Rule Number 1 is there are no rules!
They year began with new energies for Stolen Pieces. Usually accustomed to one-of-one drops, they released a collection of caps inspired by Lovemore Majaivana. Spring/Summer ’25 seems like a continuation of this explorative phase that the Byo brand finds itself in. At least that’s according to the answers we got from Rodney Mandebvu, head honcho at Stolen Pieces:
You dropped a collection of caps in AW25, which was a slight departure from how you usually release. Are we gonna see another collection in SS25?
For this season, we’re just gonna keep creating pieces as we have done every other season. In SS25, our single drops will be a buildup towards a full collection, and so far we are halfway there.
It’ll be a series of different looks that are inspired by one theme. Just you wait and see.
As Bulawayo fashion continues on its rise, what do you feel needs to be done to unlock the next level?
If you’re talking levels, Bulawayo fashion has been there, we’ve always been there. Local brands just need to unite more, support each other and collaborate more.
Also, we have to adopt a culture of documenting the work we do. We need to archive every moment on our own before we wait for others to come and tell us what Bulawayo fashion is and what we have done.
The Evolution
Mcheno and More turns three this September. Over this relatively short period, we have witnessed considerable progress in Zimbabwe’s fashion, art and creative culture. As we approach the late-2020’s, there is a lot being done and much more that needs to be done.
One thing being done right is the platforms that have been created for creatives in fashion. From I Wear My Culture to Creative DNA, to the accelerators and incubators; it has been beautiful to see creatives being given recognition and exposure. This trend also vindicates our initial assertion that there is much value to be unlocked within the fashion industry in Zimbabwe. As Zim fashion continues to evolve, we hope institutions and policy makers continue remembering fashion and art as they have in the past three years.
It is not only up to the institutions to bring change to fashion, but this responsibility also rests on the retailers. In as much as the counterfeit foreign brands sell better, it benefits retailers in the long term to take up homegrown brands. The interest that has been generated in local brands over the past three years presents a big opportunity for retailers to capture a once forgotten segment of the market.
In five years, the few boutiques that will take up this advice will not only be laughing to the bank, they will also be venerated for their contribution to the progression of Zimbabwean fashion.
We heralded Zim fashion’s renaissance three years ago. Today, that renaissance is our lived reality. We find ourselves at yet another watershed moment, the beginning of an important Season. It is our hope that everything we have anticipated for Spring/Summer ‘25 will be manifested.
Let’s catch up in January, as we review SS25 and prepare for AW26. Until then, you can count on your trusted source for everything Zim fashion, art and culture —Mcheno and More.
Stay in the loop on our social media. Watch out for us at the next fashion event, the next art exhibition and the next big moment for the culture; we’ll definitely be outside this SS25!
