WINDHOEK– After nine years in business a period during which it has been a highlight on the Namibian entertainment and cultural calendar, the Legendary Dress Design Competion comes to an end with its last edition at the Windhoek Country Club and Resort on December 7.
And unlike in the past when previous winners have been refused participation to encourage other new and would-be designers, this year’s competition is an open affair with previous winners in the mix. This means that established designers such as McBight Kavari, three times winners of this competition, Christa Beukes and Lady Mbunga, among others shall raise the stakes high in this year’s edition and probably the last one unless something drastic happens in terms of sponsorships. For a few years running now the First National Bank of Namibia has been the main sponsor of the event. However, despite, organisers united in this event’s management company that has come to be known as Kujeurua Ndjimairiroro, literally meaning that helps comes to those who are trying to help themselves, are of the opinion that the event has been supping too much of their own energies and personal resources, even finances, that they can no longer continue with it in the absence of others sponsors. This is despite the fact that through the years they have become attached to the event, if not fallen in love with the Ovaherero-Ovambanderu traditional dress, which form the focus of the competition, and which they have helped popularise that during these nine years the dress has become an international trotter of some kind having grace several catwalks whether in Africa or overseas.
Not only this but thanks to this competition this dress has become a fashionable item in the wardrobe of many fashionistas, locally and beyond. Even the young fashion fundis in Namibia from across cultural boundaries seem to have dearly taken to the dress. Only recently it was Miss Namibia, Mavulu’s national costume to Miss Universe in Moscow, Russia, even the its snakiness, with the snake on top of the traditional head garb that goes along with the dress, raised some eyebrows among all and sundry, cultural adherents, designers and fashion critics. This was McBright Kavari at his creative best trying to transcend cultural limits. Notwithstanding, McBright went to represent the country at another African fashion extravaganza this week in Burkina Faso.
This year designers have the arduous task of designing a dress that would be setting the trend as far as this dress is concerned in the coming year or years. Thus only the sky is the limit as far as the designing imagination of the designers are concerned barring that with all previous designs the dress must not be short, must not be short-sleeved and must not reveal its bearer’s breast. This year’s edition was launched last Thursday at the Nice Restaurant in Windhoek when designers were taken through the finer points of the competition. Once again the FNB is sponsoring this year’s competition.