Regional and Internationally recognized catwalk and photographic model Priscilla Chigariro's long dream of giving back her fashion and modelling gift to her birth country will come to fruition next year when she launches Zimbabwe’s first ever fashion week.

Priscilla is based in South Africa and has been planning the event from there. The media launch for the event took place on Friday 27th November 2009 at FTV Café Village Walk in Sandton, Johannesburg, with the after party taking place at Moloko SA in Rosebank.

Respected fashion industry personalities and movers and shakers were in attendance. The launch tapped into the Zimbabwean fashion crème de la crème based in South Africa who constituted the majority of the invited guests, potential sponsors and active fashion industry players.  Priscilla is working to get as many of them as possible to Harare for the official launch, tipped to take place early 2010. 

Priscilla who has ten years experience as a professional model and boasts a career that started with her clinching the super face title of 2000 in the annual Supermodel search run by Zimbabwe Sun Hotels. This title made her the automatic runner up to represent Zimbabwe in the Face Of Africa competition the following year.

To date Priscilla has worked on campaigns, advertisements and shows like the Vukani Fashion Award Show, SA Fashion Week, Guess Jeans campaign, Virgin Mobile, Coca Cola lite and done shoots in publications such as Destiny Magazine, True Love, Elle Magazine, Cosmopolitan and Y Mag. 

Priscilla was only 18 when she won a contract to model in South Africa which she only took up in 2001.  “I have since modelled in Paris, France, Milan, Barcelona, Spain and of course around South Africa,” she said in a statement to The Zimbo Jam.

Says Priscilla about the inspiration behind the idea and what she sees as the benefits of having such a platform: “I created a clothing and accessories brand and realized there was no platform in Zimbabwe for me to show my products so I decided to do something about it.”

The participating designers at Zimbabwe Fashion week will each be expected to present a comprehensive collection of at least 12 garments.

The Zimbabwean fashion industry flourished in the mid to late 90s with key names like Creed Katsande, Sonny of Savor Makolinsky and David Gwaze who specialized in the Savile Row tailor made suits and grace the prestigious Supermodel event annually.

New school names like Brenda Sibanda and Peter Rakubva took the spotlight in the early 2000s hence the optimism and confidence that Priscilla has about rekindling that fashion flame that made Zimbabwe one of the key fashion African countries blessed with a collage of successful catwalk stories like Jonathan Denga, Langa Sibanda, Lenah Zinyama, Rachel Stuart, Debbie Jones, Vimbai Mutinhiri and Priscilla herself.

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More Info:
For news and event updates around the Zimbabwe Fashion Week project, please visit www.zimbabwefashionweek.com.
You can also follow the Zimbabwe fashion week twitter updates and on Zimbabwe Fashion Weeks’ face book page. 

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Shuvai   |2009-12-01 06:10:41 Dear Priscilla Thank you for this great initiative. Please do not mess up. There are too many people who spend time outside Zim and then come and implement half baked things. Firstly you're a Zimbo. You need to prove yourself. Secondly, you're a sister. You need to represent. Thirdly, you're in a difficult industry. You need to lead. Reply 0   0

ZFW   |2009-12-03 09:15:29 Dear Shuvai Pessimism is always the first step towards failure. Working together and being supportive is always the foundation for success. Lets focus on that. Regards Priscilla Reply 0   0

abi  - go sister go   |2009-12-01 22:26:39 brilliant idea sis all i can say is best wishes all eyes r on u, take up the stage n give us a big show. Reply 0   0

Ilona Velez  - Professional Makeup Artist   |2009-12-14 03:44:35 Hello Priscilla! I am newly arrieved in Harare.I been here for two month and i will stay here another two years. I have an international expirience working on runway shows,editorial,music videos, Tv projects. I saw the article in newspaper about you and the upcoming event on Dec.29.It looks very iteresting to me to take part in. I am looking forward to hear from you. With best wishes, Ilona Velez. Reply 1   0

Priscilla Chigariro  - Media Launch   |2009-12-14 11:13:18 Hi Ilona Please may you send me your contact details to info@zimbabwefashionweek.com I am looking for a make up artist for the launch on the 29th December. Please contact me, I look forward to hearing from you. Reply 0   0

nobuhle  - well done   |2010-01-09 08:50:30 all the best girl, you and follow your dream, may the good Lord usher you and guide in this venture and i wish all the best and pray the Fasion Week is a great success.... Reply 0   0

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