KEMI GOES NEXT LEVEL IN THE ART OF DESIGN

 Models shows the fashion work of Kemi

 Models shows the fashion work of Kemi

Models shows the fashion work of Kemi

TANZANIA’s fashion designer, Kemi Kalikawe, has gone next level in fashion designing showbiz after her brilliant performance in many world class events.

The just ended International Young Fashion Designers Tour at Hyatt Kilimanjaro Hotel in the city proved the designer is now a force to reckon as she parades her designs on the global arena.

The feat earned the designer a huge international appeal, especially in Panama where her rare designs applied to the mixed Central American audience and has drawn a huge number of fans.

The Tanzanian rose high above the huge names in designing during the International Young Fashion Designers Showcase Tour of Dar es Salaam that attracted many internationally acclaimed designers.

Kalikawe, who showcased her designs under Naledi Tanzania banner, has also participated in the previous fashion shows of Iceland and Panama prior to the Dar es Salaam fashion gala and will go to China for the last show. Her 2 central designs are made from Barkcloth also called 'The Cloth of Kings' a sustainable cloth made from a tree in her home town Bukoba. These center pieces of her collection have stood out in their architectural and yet feminine cuts, inspired by her interior design background.

Others who paraded their designs alongside Kalikawe included Tony Vergara and Veronica Angel from Panama, Hildur Yeoman from Iceland.

Others were Junne Liu and Jarel Zhang from China, Lina Yingzi and Yuzhu from Kanoe while Mary Yu, Kenny Li, Singchin Lo and Mountain Yam were from Hong Kong.

Also attended the International Young Fashion Designers Showcase Tour of Dar es Salaam had government officials with the guest of honour being Hon. Mizengo P. Pinda, former Prime Minister of Tanzania. Other officials were Ambassador Ramadhani M. Mwinyi, Mr. Xu Chen, Charge d'affaires ad interim of the Embassy of China in Tanzania, Mr Godfrey Lebejo Mngerza, director of BASATA, Hon Rtd Judge Thomas Mihayo, Chairman of Tanzania Tourists Board (TTB), Mr Joseph Kahama, Secretary General of Tanzania China Friendship Promotion Association and various stakeholder of designing and modeling sectors from in and outside the country.

Kalikawe used this rear international platform to give a chance to upcome designers to also showcase their work at the opening cocktail event. This opportunity helped to focus on talented youth who can later be promoted to the international level as well.

Delighted with early success, Kalikawe said the international events have promoted her and her works very much and given her a confidence in her career.

“The international level events have opened doors to showcase my designs to the world. I am getting calls from people in Hong Kong interested in buying my work. I feel honoured since I will be able to shine a light on the talent of Tanzania in the design sector. More over each trip has been a journey of sight seeing, cross culture friendship building with fellow designers and wonderful memories. One distinct memory of wander was attending a special dinner in celebration of us designers hosted by at the First Lady of Panama, at the presidential residents, what an honer is was. I look forward to the last stop in China coming soon,” she joyfully said.

This series of the shows have been initiated by Dr. Annie Wu and supervised by an institution called Belt and Road International Young Artist Development Centre and organised by PR Network Hong Kong. The series of fashion designing events have been already staged in Reykjavik, Iceland ,Panama City and now in Dar es Salaam. The next event will be in Zhuhai (China).