UNITED Kingdom-based fashion designer Dephne Madyara was recently nominated for the Best Female Fashion Designer award at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Report by Tinashe Sibanda
Madyara, whose techniques can be seen through her label Dephne Designs, has designed outfits for various models.
The talented young lady is set to raise the bar high to be force to reckon with in the world of fashion. NewsDay Entertainment Reporter Tinashe Sibanda (ND) recently caught up with Madyara (DM) and below are excerpts of the interview.
ND: When and how did you discover your talent? DM: As I matured and my body changed, I noticed that my clothes didn’t fit properly and I always had to sew and alter them. In 2005 my mother bought me a sewing machine as a Christmas present and that’s how my talent unfolded.
ND: Tell me about the first dress you made. DM: It was a long gold sequin gown. I had been invited to an event and literally went all over town trying to find a dress that I pictured so perfectly in my mind, but couldn’t find it. So I bought two gold sequin tops worth £5 each and literally made a gown out of them.
ND: What inspires you? DM: I’m inspired by the 1940s era, the classical beauty and glamour.
ND: What are your short-term and long-term goals? DM: My short-term goal is growth by obtaining investors and manufacturers to expand the line and inventory. My long-term goal is to dress celebrities and to open several clothing boutiques.
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ND: What kind of designs do you mainly focus on? DM: The designs are made for the wearer to stand out of the crowd and still look beautiful, classy or glamorous.
ND: Do your clothes cater for a specific gender or age group? DM: The clothes cater for women of all ages.
ND: Did you study fashion? DM: Yes, I did fashion and fabrics from Form One to Four.
ND: What advice do you give to other upcoming Zimbabwean fashion designers? DM: To work hard and never give up on your hopes and gifts, no matter how people might tell you that you can’t do or you’re not good enough. When you put your hopes and dreams in God’s hand, He’ll prosper you and bring them to pass.
ND: What else do you do for a living? DM: I work full-time as a customer service agent for an insurance company. In my spare time I get to do what I really love and that’s designing, sewing and writing. I authored a book titled Incorruptible Beauty in March this year.
