The Iconic Bomber jacket Trend

The 'Iconic Bomber Iconic Jacket ' is trending in the streets of Southern Africa.Thanks to the 'House of Hohwa' founder

Kuda Matiza (KM).Multi talented designer Kuda Matiza (KM) is interviewed by freelance  journalist Tapiwanashe Rubaya (TR).

During the interview Kuda Matiza highlights the journey that led the 'Iconic Bomber Jacket' to be part of the trend in the fashion sector.

TR:Who is Kuda Matiza?
KM:I am a designer,Creative Director,musician,filmmaker and entrepreneur to summarise it all I am an artist prenuer.Born and raised in Zimbabwe now based in SA.I am fortunate to have found my meaning as an artist and had the opportunity to study music and I am also a film graduate.
I ventured into fashion from the aspect of creation, construction -Design and the love for clothing.The interest came into the aspect of speaking many stories that Africa has put being able to fit them into constructive garments I have worked with.
Influential people in different industries including film,television and music.

TR:What keeps you going in your journey in being a designer?
KM:I am driven by the need to tell stories through design.The need to put across a message.At House of Hohwa we believe in doing things out of the box or beyond the fence as some would say.I am inspired by the richness of the diversity and culture that make up the African continent people are amazing and if I can get everyone's story in a piece of garment then we defiantly have something there.

TR:Take us to the background of 'House of Hohwa'?
KM:House of Hohwa is a personal journey that I made a public because the name 'Hohwa' initially involved everything around me as a artist.
4 years ago I sat down and decided that the brand would be named after the neighbourhood I grew up in Craneborne nicknamed 'Hohwa',but everyone and the connotation is diversity of mushrooms themselves as they come in different sizes,shapes,colour etc.

TR:What makes the designs of House of Hohwa to be unique,comparing to other fashion houses?
KM:Like I said before we think and do beyond the fence.We come up with something new and never been done before.
For example the ' Iconic Bomber Jacket' are our creation.We also try as much as we can to create brand interaction with our followers by giving them something tangible other than the garments.In a fast paced market like today it is important to always stay in contact with your market you will never know what we will do next but when you do you will be blown away.

TR:Your iconic Print Bombers are trending in the world of Fashion.What inspired you to design them?

KM:The iconic Print Bomber like I love to call it is the epitome of street ethnic ethnic,another concept we launched at our official runway launch in 2015.The bomber is a cool item that adds to trends and a look.Its seriously cool I think and that was my thought before I designed it We wanted something different so I got in and made it and it just 'mushroomed'.(laughing).

TR:What do you think has made the iconic bomber jacket to trend?
KM:The print Bomber was the first on the market I'd like to think as a new concept we owned it and gave birth to the idea.It didn't need a lot of work so we just made sure we let people wear it the way they wanted to and it trended I guess.

TR:One might ask who is entitled to wear the iconic bomber jacket?
KM:The print Iconic bomber jacket is unisex item.Anyone can wear it,its a very iconic item which means you will be wearing it in the next few years too.
You will pair it up with a nice pair of jeans,some cool sneakers and just a plain coloured tee.
For the street wear lovers its a chance to just get on fleek!

TR:Where can one buy a the  print bomber?
KM:If you want to get the Bomber for you or someone else (As a great gift) you can go to our social platforms or visit our studio in Braamfontein Jhb.We also deliver anywhere in the world.

TR:Which fashion shows has the iconic bomber jacket been showcased in and how has the out come been?
KM:The print bomber jacket was on our own runway,when we launched the 'Winds of Change' collection earlier  this year.The plan is to launch it globally in future fashion events.
People love these and some are willing to sell a kidney for it (laughing).At the launch of WOC17 we had a couple of them bought straight from runway.The response is amazing.

TR:state some celebrities who have woren the print bomber jacket?
KM:We have a few people who are celebs or influential in their own spheres that one or a couple,these are Dereck Badze an entrepreneur,Hastings Nyirenda a great musician and well known Drummer.
Rapper A-reece also owns one.The  famous Great
Moscow Circus also owns a couple for their performances.

TR:After the print bomber jacket,what's next to trend from
Kuda Matiza?
KM:The print bomber is part of the Winds Of Change Collection17 and we are pushing the rest of it this whole year.There are some really out of the box sophisticated designs featured on this collection.On what will trend?I really can't say but something will defiantly.

Ins&twitt:@houseofhohwa ;FB:House of hohwa
FB:Kuda Matiza official  email:houseofhohwa@gmail.com

David Alford Release His Autumn/Winter 17 Look Book&Campaign.

David Alford is one of the biggest fashion brands in Zimbabwe's fashion industry owned by David Alford (DV).
In an interview with Tapiwanashe Rubaya (TR),David Alford  shares some of his experience that he has faced since he ventured in the fashion industry,he also talks about his brand's autumn/winter 2017 look book campaign.

_I had a very strong and explosive entry onto the Zimbabwe Fashion circuit, something which was created I think by peoples intrigue into the house. I was_

TR:Define your self
DA: I make clothes with a passion for drama and emotion. 

TR:When did you  started to have a vision of becoming a fashion designer?
DA:I discovered Fashion at the age of 15, where I quickly fell in love with the avante garde/ theatrical side to Fashion. That idea of being able to make an audience go through emotions as if they were sitting in a theatre rather than a Fashion Show. Having always had an interest in music, theatre and then clothing, it seemed to be the right avenue to take to be able to combine all three in creating my own world. 

TR:What challenges that you faced when you started in the industry?
DA: A key challenge for me to begin was to break the initial ideas associated with Fashion in Zimbabwe, I found many people never took it as a serious industry/ profession, something I personally feel has changed for myself over the last two years. 

TR:Is there someone in the fashion industry you look up to? And why that person?
DA: There are several people I look up to in the Fashion Industry however I find it hard to aspire to any individual as everyones journey in this industry is so varied. My greatest influencers would have to be designers such as Galliano, Van Herpen & Mcqueen, as they have a fearless approach to their work and stay true to Fashion being an art form, something I feel very strongly about. 

TR:How has travelling influenced your work in the fashion industry?
DA: I think the biggest thing I have experienced by travelling internationally is a certainty of what we produce as a house is of good standards, but instead of relaxing into this confidence it has actually driven me to become more pedantic over every detail of our work. It is very easy to allow standards to slip and travelling has definitely reenergised me and made me a lot more confident and daring. 

TR:What is your personal relationship with Harare's fashion industry?
DA: I had a very strong and explosive entry onto the Zimbabwe Fashion circuit, something which was created I think by peoples intrigue into the house. I was certainly welcomed with open arms and Fashion in Zimbabwe will always be in my heart, sadly this year I feel we have slightly left it behind because of outside commitments but hopefully this will be put right towards the end of this year, with some exciting projects coming up. 

TR: You recently released your autumn/winter 2017 look book and campaign tell us more about it?
DA. The Autumn/Winter 17 Look Book & Campaign kind of brings the collection and the first half of 2017 to a close. The Campaign which was photographed by Mike Wall, is a billboard for the brand for the next few months, a mood setter for what clients can see in the Alford showroom etc. As the collection was inspired by the demise of the Great Barrier Reef, I wanted to create a simple yet dramatic mood for the Campaign, so we Pixelised the images to emphasis that feel of decay and destruction. 

TR:Where can your fans buy your collections?
DA: Our collections are sold exclusively through our showroom & Studio, however this collection is slightly different as all the fabric is produced individually for each garment so we are working on a pre order custom made basis. 

TR:Is there any runway which your collection hasn't been showcased in,which you dream to showcase your designs ?
DA. I never thought thatIwould make it to such an event like New York Fashion Week so in a way the dream has been reached in at least some respect. However the ultimate dream is to show in Paris, that is definitely the ultimate goal. 

TR:Next year February it will be a special month for you as you will be showcasing in New York what should your fans expect from you.
DA. I cant say too much about what we have in store for New York Fashion Week in February just yet, however all I can say is it will definitely be our biggest and most daring collection to pull off as of yet.