From Zambia, Bulawayo and now Harare; this weekend all roads lead to Alliance de Fràncaise Harare for the second edition of the Skeyi and Strobo Fabrikans Convention.
The soiree will run from the Friday 25th to Sunday the 27th, bringing together creatives from all walks of life for a celebration of urban culture, music, fashion and creativity. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect over the Fabrikans weekend:
Friday
On Friday, expect thought-provoking conversations at workshops facilitated by industry professionals.
Celebrated cultural journalist Usher Nyambi kicks off the program at 1100hrs with a workshop called ‘Bridging Gaps: Connecting people, skills and communities for collective growth.’
Chido Chidziwo follows at 1240hrs for a session titled ‘Storytelling for your creative brand: Leveraging social media.’ This session will be of particular interest for any creative who is keen on elevating their brand perception on social media.
Frypan and Kombonation warp up Fabrikans Friday with an interative ‘Do It Together Workshop’ where attendees will get a chance to create together with the facilitators. Please make sure to bring a t-shirt to print on.
Entry is free for all sessions.
Saturday
Saturday is a celebration of urban culture that any connoisseur of the culture should not make the mistake of missing out on.
The day starts at 0900hrs in the heart of the city for SKATE CITY. Hosted at Old Greatermans Building (corner Jason Moyo Ave and Sam Nujoma Street), the Convention’s official skate sesh will go on until 1430hrs. Admission is just US$1.
Skater culture in Zimbabwe is another bubbling-under subculture which the Skeyi and Strobo collective has supported since the Skate Sundays at the Dominican Convent driveway. And now the skaters get to take centerstage at arguably Zimbabwe’s foremost celebration of urban culture. Beautiful to see.
Back at the serene settings at Alliance de Fràncaise; gates will open at 1100hrs to allow attendees to catch up and peruse the Fabrik Party Pop Up Store as well as gaze at the art installations from various artists that will be strewn across the venue.
But that’s not all. There’ll be live music performances starting at 1500hrs, where you can look forward to some refreshing sounds by talented artists. The day wraps up with DJ sets starting at 1800hrs well into the night.
Entry into Alliance de Fràncaise is US$10.
Sunday
Sunday is what makes it a Fabrik Party, and what we’re most excited for – the fashion day.
The showcases are split into two – one at 1300hrs, and another at 1500hrs, with some good music in-between. Live music performances will come just after the second fashion session.
Entry for the fashion extravaganza is US$10.
The Designers’ lineup promises to be the most exciting as it features a range of brands which include Zed the Label, D.O.E, Icatha, The Homeless Kids, Soleil, True Colours Worldwide (TCW), Inomusainkosi, Karma Studios, Vintage Rae, Avur, Machuma Accessories among others.
Designers will be showcasing their latest creations from haute couture to streetwear. So, what can we expect from the fashion main event? We just had to catch up with some of the designers who will be showcasing and pick their brain before the big day.
After spending most of the year giving others the style, Drip Pyscho is ready to introduce his brand THE HOMELESS KIDS (THK) to the world. And what a way to do it – on the Fabrikans runway. According to Drip Psycho, THK is a proactive and innovative fashion brand that challenges traditional norms of luxury, beauty and sustainability.
He would not, however, reveal further details about the particulars of the Sunday showcase, saying; “For THK I wouldn’t want to say much because I feel like I might disclose a big secret but something huge is on the way.”
Drip Psycho rather gave a disclaimer as a teaser – the showcase is going to be a men’s collection only.
“Please note that our current showcase exclusively features the THK men’s collection. The women’s collection will be unveiled at a later date, and we look forward to sharing it with you soon,” he said.
On the collection which is going to be showcased by THK, they worked with a renowned stylist Leeroy Jawala of African Hippie who confirmed to have a hand in the collection, “I will be working with the brand THK who will make their debut this Fabrik Party. I had a hand in designing some pieces in the collection.”
Jawala also had the pleasure of working with another brand which is debuting on the Fabrikans runway – Icatha.
Icatha was founded by Marcus Zvinavashe, who has spent the better part of the year teasing the brand by wearing some unreleased pieces. Icatha will finally be introduced to the world on Sunday, with a collection titled Ubusuku.
As for what we are going to witness on the runway, Zvinavashe kept his cards close to his chest as always.
“Better shown than said. See you on Sunday,” he quipped.
Co-stylist Leeroy Jalawa did give us a better hint, saying; “It (Icatha) is a very dynamic brand and I can’t wait for the world to see the collection.”
Ever since debuting her collection at Fabrikans Convention 2023, Ropafadzo ‘Kuki’ Mapira hasn’t looked back. She hosted a standalone show earlier this year, before jetting off for SSFabrik Party Zambia in June. Upon her return, she rebranded from Inferno to Soleil, before securing a spot as the only woman on the Zimbabwe Fashion Week’s reFASHION Accelerator.
Now, before going to Victoria Falls for Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2024, it was only right that she stays true to her roots and come back to where it all started.
“I feel great this year I feel like I really took my craftsmanship to a new level and I’m so excited to showcase this collection because it’s a build towards the vision I has for my brand. You can look forward to a lot of upcycled work this time around I used fabric scraps from my previous collection to make the entire collection,” said Mapira.
Kuki also praised the SSFP community on being a confidence booster and allowing her to curate an audience for her brand. “Showcasing at Fabrik Party has helped me understand my audience more and it has been a platform that continues to grow my brand and expose it to the different markets it attracts,” she concluded.
Whatever happens, you cannot miss this edition of the Skeyi and Strobo Fabrikans Convention. A haven for creativity, self-expression and community; this weekend will likely stamp the Fabrik Party as the biggest fashion and urban culture festival between the Zambezi and Limpopo.
