The Skeyi and Strobo Fabrik Party is Zimbabwe’s foremost gathering of creatives. Nobunaga is a decorated avant-garde designer, and the founder of SEXƧOUNDS AƧYLUM.
This is why everyone eagerly anticipated the first ever Fabrik Party in Bulawayo, where Nobunaga was set to release the A ✞ ✞ ✞ A Collection. Initially scheduled for August 10, the event was pushed to September 7; which further escalated anticipation. When the day finally came, everyone expected an unforgettable experience.
Indeed it was.
The turnout was more quality than quantity. The Fashion Council of Zimbabwe graced the event. Gilmore Tee was there. Da Kudu and Kyla Blac passed through. Some high profile names, but still a low turnout. This is unsurprising for such niched undertakings, but it could have been avoided.
It’s a niche, there’s no mass appeal. It’s not a Winky D show.
Attendance depends on the closely-knit relationships that have been built amongst those within the niche. Therefore, the decision to have just one brand for such a show was in itself divisive. Anyone who did not have a close relationship with the headlining brand would have felt overlooked. As a result, most of the few attendees were Nobunaga’s contemporaries.
One of them was Keith Ryan Chikoza of New Image Kingdom. Speaking to Mcheno and More, the designer underscored the significance of fellow creatives supporting each other and their endeavors.
“If it’s not us, then who was going to show up today at this place. Naga is our blood, he’s one of us. It’s important for us to support each other, without having to look up to people from outside (the industry),” he said.
The 24-year old saw the event as monumental, saying; “We been craving for this moment in time, for this vibe, for this platform. Just for people to see us, doing what we love. We didn’t have these fashion shows back then. I’m happy that Bulawayo fashion is taking a stand.”
If the general consensus was that the Fabrik Party was a big moment for Bulawayo fashion, the organizers must’ve missed that memo. Maybe to them, it was more of a stopover along a long journey; a detour to the Fabrikans Convention.
The event was billed to start at 1200hrs. Two hours later, the team was still tinkering with the set design as guests slowly started to trickle in. Upon arrival, it was clear to everyone that we were still far from witnessing SEXƧOUNDS’ first collection of 2024. The audience ended up enduring the interludes than enjoying the action, surviving on a bitter cocktail of confusion and anticipation.
“What’s going on? What’s coming next? When is the runway showcase?”
The MC for the day was Marcus Zvinavashe. Always the Energy Dokta, he tried his best to keep the audience engaged, but even he at times seemed exasperated by the delays.
Pleasant distractions came in the form of Larynx and Natëous, who belted out a live set of piano and drums. Performances from Absoll and Twosy also warmed up the crowd as day made way for night.
Those who had endured to wait beyond sunset got a pleasant surprise in the form of a screening of a AF-sponsored initiative — the animation exploits of Wayne Ndebele, Cosmos Roinuj and Alson Ngwenya. They premiered Episode 5 of a web series called Lost in Translation which revolves around the cultural and language intersection between Zimbabwe and France. They also showed another anime called The Holder.
As we approached 2000hrs, the exhausted audience finally got to see the A ✞ ✞ ✞ A Collection.
The set design was avant-garde to the core, and perhaps the highlight of the show. It was an expansive runway — sand on top of a black sheet, littered with empty cans and bottles; and dimly lit for ambiance. The runway stretched from the lawn to the driveway, and also featured pieces by multi-disciplinary artist Danisile Ncube. Whether by design or due to inadequate pieces for such a runway, models walked out in a repetitive pattern.
As for the fashion on display, dissecting designs in darkness is always going to be a tall order. Thus, one couldn’t clearly witness the brilliance of the A ✞ ✞ ✞ A collection. Even more so, the pieces were incoherent with each other; making it difficult to understand the theme of collection. Avant-garde is meant to be cutting-edge, not confusing.
Towards end of the showcase, one of the models, Israel aka Thy Nobleman, performed his energetic new single titled Bona Mpatla as the rest of the models kept walking out in repetition. As the grand exit, the models joined into Israel’s performance, creating a mini mosh pit.
For however the showcase turned out, Nobunaga can be forgiven; considering that he lost a bulk of the collection to theft just days before the show. As a result, he had to rush to make new designs. And it showed. A logistical nightmare cannot take away from the designers’ brilliance.
SSFabrik Party Bulawayo tried to follow the blueprint from fashion weeks in the Global North where brands launch their collections as part of a fashion week. Take for example, Balenciaga debuting its FW25 collection at the Paris Fashion Week. Except.
That happens over a week, not a day. And still. Multiple brands showcase over that week, not just one headliner.
And thus, SSFabrik Party Bulawayo laid bare the sad truth — the industry and the audience are not yet ready for that kind of a fashion show. Considering how many brands are mushrooming in Bulawayo, it would have made a better “first edition of the Fabrik Party in the city” to have an array of brands showcasing; rather than place the weight on one brand.
Yes, Nobunaga is an undoubtedly talented and passionate designer; but that wasn’t enough to deliver the historic moment we were all hoping for. The successful hosting of an event depends on a lot of moving pieces, some of which may have been overlooked in planning. And so, the first edition of the SSFabrik Party Bulawayo became a brilliant idea that was undone by its execution.
The Skeyi and Strobo collective will obviously redeem itself with the headline event on its calendar — the Fabrikans Convention scheduled for 26-28 October at Alliance Fràncaise Harare. And of course, back to the blueprint — multiple brands showcasing.
As for Nobunaga and SEXƧOUNDS, it’s back to the drawing board. One thing is for sure, the SSFabrik Party Bulawayo experience was pivotal for the designer; one that will remain etched in his memory and determine the next steps he takes towards his destiny.
