Music and fashion have always complemented each other as they thrive best when intertwined, each complementing the other to form a complete artistic expression.
In Western countries, artists have long used music as a platform to push their merchandise by expanding their reach beyond their followers for a broader audience. Fashion is essential to music and the vice versa.
Bringing it back home to Zimbabwe, Takura has been a standout artist who consistently pairs music with merch. From his debut album Somebody Had To Do It, which came with it’s own merch, to the latest offering Pariah, Takura continues to combine music and fashion.
On May 31, he teamed up with Afrocentric byBAKARI for a cozy winter jacket collection. Takura dropped the Pariah album in April under the moniker Shona Prince. With the album doing pretty well on digital streaming platforms, this was the perfect time to release Pariah Merch — right in time for winter.
The jackets are made from locally sourced fabrics as the solid colour dominates and have highlights of carefully selected African prints from all over Africa.The inspiration behind the collection comes from many directions especially from the fusion of music and fashion.
Bakari Sibanda, founder and creative director of byBAKARI explained, “The collection was inspired by the different cultural backgrounds that both brands share and want to showcase to the world.”
This collaboration is more than just merch as it is a bold statement of how when two creative forces unites they make sure not only magic happen but it also opens doors to new markets and wider audiences. The Pariah collection is a clear example of why local artists should collaborate more with local brands.“Collaborations between music and fashion have always been essential,” explained Sibanda.
He continued; “They broaden the creative sector and the reach of both brands.”
Naturally one of the big questions everyone wants to know is ’What was it like working with Shona Prince himself?’ Sibanda shared, “Takura is a brand known for innovative and creative ideas, grounded in great ethics that is something we felt resonated deeply with the byBAKARI ethos.”
byBAKARI continues to be an innovative brand fusing top notch design with Afrocentric aesthetic. Last year, they ventured into homeware and this year they’re making headlines with this Shona Prince collab. Sibanda detailed how the collab came about, “We’d been in talks for about 2years now trying to come up with the best design that will talk to both the Takura and byBAKARI fans”
Being the exceptional artist he is, Takura had to opt for an equally exceptional brand and byBAKARI fit the bill. ”Bakari is an amazing designer and working with his brand helped bring the cultural diversity and background of Shona Prince,” commented Takura.
Pariah Merch is more than a fashion moment but it’s a celebration of collaboration, culture and creativity.
Good music and cozy jackets; the perfect winter combo for fans of Takura and byBakari. Order your limited edition byBakarixShona Prince winter jackets online.
