Fashion designer Gloria Wavamunno held Africa’s Next Top Model Aamito in an emotional embrace as tears rolled down their eyes backstage when the curtains fell on the inaugural Kampala Fashion Week at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Sunday night.
Many were alarmed thinking something bad had happened as they watched the two ladies shed tears for close to five minutes. But these were tears of joy, something that is a foreign custom when it comes to celebrations as tears are reserved for loss in our African society.
But Gloria Wavamunno and Aamito are well exposed, having graced several fashion capitals of the world. Well, Aamito for only few months as she won Oluchi Onweagba’s Africa’s Next Top Model challenge in January this year, opening doors for her to a jet-set lifestyle, walking the catwalks from Johannesburg to New York.
There was definitely cause for Gloria Wavamunno, the brain behind the Kampala Fashion week to shed tears of joy, having nursed the idea for close to five years.
“I am happy that we have pulled this through. This is just the beginning,” she told Matooke Republic backstage.
Several designers including renowned Sylvia Owori and President Museveni’s daughter Natasha Kainembabazi Karugire showcased at the event. For Natasha it was a comeback, having shelved her design talents for a decade to concentrate on raising her children.
ICT Minister Eng. John Nasasira’s daughter Juliana, who designs under the label Kwesh was one of the “rich kids” who showcased at the event.
But not every designer needed to have been born in the lap of luxury as Ras Kasozi, a streetwise fellow making raves in the design world also showcased a cosmopolitan collection that would also be appreciated on the runways of Paris.
Eguana had an “Afropolitan’’ collection, choosing to marry African fabrics with Western fashion cuts.
Martha Jabo had her signature frills and zipper embellishments written all over her collection though her dominant theme colour this time was maroon.
And speaking of colour, Edward Sempa chose to go all black, a collection that was interpreted as morbid or “black is beautiful” whichever way you chose to look at it.
The showstopper was London based designer Jose Hendo. While most designers save for Gloria Wavamunno showcased mostly a ready to wear collection, Hendo’s was majorly haute couture designed using bark cloth and she received a standing ovation, marking a good climax to the show.
The Kampala Fashion Week happened just a week after the Kigali fashion week drawing international press and fashion scouts that found it convenient to stay in the East African region for both events.
The fashion week, then named Uganda International Fashion Week was started by designer Santa Anzo in 2003 but it went into slumber in 2008 when the sponsors pulled out. Gloria Wavamunno being a daughter of tycoon Gordon Wavamunno, the finances might not be a big worry, ensuring longevity for the event.
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