Zimbabwean designer at Paris Fashion Week

Zimbabwean designer at Paris Fashion Week

By Letwin Mubonesi

Local designer, Ishmael Tsakatsa  also known as Zarguesia in Fashion and Design circles is ready to participate in the Paris Fashion Week taking place at the end of this month.

He will be the first Zimbabwean designer to participate at the prominent show where high end and internationally recognized brands such as Louis Vuitton, Celine, Yves Saint Laurent, Coco Channel, Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana are partake.

The event is scheduled to start on 27 September, ending on 5 October. The talented designer will be showcasing some of the local designs in different venues. He said everything is ready for him to attend the show and is putting some final touches to the designs he is supposed to be showcasing.

Attending Paris Fashion Week is a dream come true to Zarguesia as he said he was linked through a friend to take part in such a prestigious show.

He said, “I was scouted by an international fashion agency, Fabusse, who submitted my Portifolio and I was one of the few to be hand-picked amongst thousands of other talented designers. I can say, it is a dream come true and to date I still ask myself: Is it me? The only word to describe all this is wow.”

He is so excited to fly to Paris for the first time in his life and said that he hopes to bring new skills that will also impact other fellow designers back home and vowed to represent the country well.

“My focus on my designs will be on taking the melting pot of the evolving African fashion art, creativity and culture. I want to set the agenda, put Zimbabwe on the global fashion map and take it to dizzy heights. I hope to drive economic development and attract global attention to Zimbabwe’s creative clothing and manufacturing industry. I think my designs are unique,” said the designer.

Zarguesia said that his role model is Jesus Christ as his brand name was inspired by the reference to God’s beauty and a romanticism of royalty and an allure of opulence, elegance and excellence.

He has worked with socialites, business owners and celebrities who included Zari Hassan, Pokello Nare, Tehn Diamond, Tarry Phineas amongst others.