A northern fashion revolution
One-year projects brings industries together
The Sound Connects Fund is made possible with financial support from the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
We all need fashion inspiration from time to time. Some Namibian creatives give us that and more.
Fashion Meets Sound brought creatives together in northern Namibia last week to share and explore ideas on how they can work together and improve the industry.
The Sound Connects Fund, an initiative by the Music in Africa Foundation and the Goethe-Institut, is made possible with financial support from the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
The project aims to develop and promote a relationship between the music and fashion industries.
Consisting of members of the MTC Windhoek Fashion Week (MTC WFW) team, the project team travelled across several regions of Namibia to empower the youth as well as aspiring musical artists and fashion designers.
Social media manager and marketing assistant for MTC WFW, Iyaloo Hamukwaya said the initiative is aimed at bringing two worlds together.
The fashion enthusiast said they will be working with local designers, photographers and videographers and will be visiting schools where learners are passionate about fashion.
“We will work with designers to bring garments to life. The goal is to reach everyone in Namibia. The project started in August and ends next August. It is a one-year project,” she said.
Empowering locals
Hamukwaya and the team held masterclasses in Ongwediva last week for sound engineers, designers, musicians, DJs and fashion enthusiasts.
“The aim is to empower the local people. Even the DJ we used for the event was scouted in Ongwediva. It is an information-sharing session for all the creatives. For those starting out to know that people are seeing them and that they should market their work,” she said.
One of the participants, Keri Vancella Kozosi – who is the founder and creative director of fashion brand Usuta Couture - was buzzing with excitement, and said usually events like these don’t take place in the north.
“It’s a great networking event and sharing ideas with other fashion designers is so refreshing. There are enough [opportunities] for everyone; we do not have to grab from each other. We can complement one another,” she said.
Collaboration opportunity
Owner and founder of KalaCrochet, Wilhelmina Iimene said she decided to take part in the event because of the networking opportunities it offers, adding that she hopes to connect with different people and learn from them.
“It’s also an opportunity to meet with models and sound producers who might want to collaborate with me. I also get to enjoy the exposure,” Iimene said.
She started KalaCrotchet in 2019 as a hobby to pass time, but it has now grown into a registered business with clientele over Namibia’s 13 regions.
“I ventured into the industry and I started getting orders from people and now it is a registered business. I want to redefine the knitwear belief, because people think it is all about beanies, bucket hats and socks, but it’s more than that.
“You can make a whole outfit form crocheting. Now it’s on runways,” she said.
Fashion Meets Sound brought creatives together in northern Namibia last week to share and explore ideas on how they can work together and improve the industry.
The Sound Connects Fund, an initiative by the Music in Africa Foundation and the Goethe-Institut, is made possible with financial support from the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States.
The project aims to develop and promote a relationship between the music and fashion industries.
Consisting of members of the MTC Windhoek Fashion Week (MTC WFW) team, the project team travelled across several regions of Namibia to empower the youth as well as aspiring musical artists and fashion designers.
Social media manager and marketing assistant for MTC WFW, Iyaloo Hamukwaya said the initiative is aimed at bringing two worlds together.
The fashion enthusiast said they will be working with local designers, photographers and videographers and will be visiting schools where learners are passionate about fashion.
“We will work with designers to bring garments to life. The goal is to reach everyone in Namibia. The project started in August and ends next August. It is a one-year project,” she said.
Empowering locals
Hamukwaya and the team held masterclasses in Ongwediva last week for sound engineers, designers, musicians, DJs and fashion enthusiasts.
“The aim is to empower the local people. Even the DJ we used for the event was scouted in Ongwediva. It is an information-sharing session for all the creatives. For those starting out to know that people are seeing them and that they should market their work,” she said.
One of the participants, Keri Vancella Kozosi – who is the founder and creative director of fashion brand Usuta Couture - was buzzing with excitement, and said usually events like these don’t take place in the north.
“It’s a great networking event and sharing ideas with other fashion designers is so refreshing. There are enough [opportunities] for everyone; we do not have to grab from each other. We can complement one another,” she said.
Collaboration opportunity
Owner and founder of KalaCrochet, Wilhelmina Iimene said she decided to take part in the event because of the networking opportunities it offers, adding that she hopes to connect with different people and learn from them.
“It’s also an opportunity to meet with models and sound producers who might want to collaborate with me. I also get to enjoy the exposure,” Iimene said.
She started KalaCrotchet in 2019 as a hobby to pass time, but it has now grown into a registered business with clientele over Namibia’s 13 regions.
“I ventured into the industry and I started getting orders from people and now it is a registered business. I want to redefine the knitwear belief, because people think it is all about beanies, bucket hats and socks, but it’s more than that.
“You can make a whole outfit form crocheting. Now it’s on runways,” she said.
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