Fall/Winter (FW) ‘24 was quite a quiet one for most Zimbabwean brands. Must be the economy.
With Summer/Spring ’24 fast approaching, one of Zim fashion’s consistent brands, Black Effect, has released their FW24 collection called SUEDE collection.
While for other brands, a subdued FW24 might have been due to financial difficulties, Black Effect delayed with the release because of some supply chain constraints. “We didn’t delay (the release) as such but the production took a lot of time as we waited for fabrics from China,” explained Walter Murungu, Black Effect’s head creative designer.
Officially released on August 5, the SUEDE collection consists of jackets, pants and skirts that come in 3 colourways – army green, blue and beige.
The Black Effect text logo is emblazoned in gold on the blue and army green colourways “as a resemblance of value,” according to Murungu. On the beige colourway, the text logo is in white. Murungu also hinted that other colourways might be released soon.
With the SUEDE Collection, Black Effect did not need to reinvent the wheel, but instead took inspiration from the prevailing trends in the Global North. This is a continuation of Black Effect’s approach to design, from a t-shirt released earlier this year to the zip-up jackets and pleated pants of the SUEDE Collection.
“We thought we could bring such a style to Zimbabwe through Black Effect Clothing, with a touch of Suede,” said Murungu.
To conclude, Murungu assured fashionistas that they won’t have to wait long for Black Effect’s SS24, as they have already hit the ground running with production.
The SUEDE Collection might have come a tad bit late for winter, but Black Effect have yet again kept the heartbeat of Zimbabwean streetwear fashion alive. Seven years in the game, and they’re still going strong. The SUEDE Collection comprises of versatile pieces that can be combined for any look, in any season.
As we get into SS24, fingers are crossed that other brands will come out to play and deliver a packed release calendar for fashionistas.
