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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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