Rukee Kaakunga
Namibian fashion designer Mc Bright Kavari received the African Designer Award at the Salon International du Textile Africa (SITA) event in Conakry, Guineé on Saturday, 10 November.
Kavari was part of a small group of Namibian creatives who attended the week-long event which featured exhibitions of fashion and textiles from across the African continent.
Additionally, SITA gives African textile and clothing manufacturers an opportunity to connect with buyers, while honouring the best of these African creatives at an awards ceremony that closes off the event.
SITA is an organisation from Burkina Faso which promotes African textile, culture and identity in Africa by assembling over 30 countries to celebrate African textile. An exhibition and sale is also a flagship activity of SITA, including a closing ceremony where the best exhibitors are honoured.
Speaking exclusively to New Era, Kavari expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this showcase. “Guinea is known for having good textiles in Africa, 100% and raw. This competition brings African designers together to compete and showcase their talent by using 100% raw fabric, and all accessories should be handmade. The competition encourages raw talent and creativity. I believe this opportunity was given to me to showcase my talent, and to present my work on an international platform.”
Kavari attended SITA as part of a small group of Namibians invited to be part of the event.
“Our first invitation to SITA was in 2021 in Djibouti, through the Ministry of Education, Art and Culture. Our experience in Djibouti was good. However, we just got out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the information came through late. I couldn’t prepare the group that well. The
second SITA was in Togo, Lome, 2022, where we took a group of talented College of the Arts’ graduates. But once again, we faced a challenge, this time with fabrics. SITA requires participants to create collections made of African textiles, which most Southern African countries do not have,” said Helena Hangula, a Fashion and Textile lecturer at the College of the Arts and leader of the Namibian group.
“We produced high-quality designs that carry our culture and identity as Namibians,” she added. While the College of the Arts and the University of Namibia are doing their part in fostering a culture of textile production amongst young Namibian fashion designers, Hangula noted that more work is needed to get the country on par with its African counterparts. She thanked the education ministry’s directorate of arts and SITA for the opportunity to participate in the showcase, and connect with and learn from fellow fashion industry counterparts from across the continent. “It will motivate Namibian fashion designers to start textile production,” she observed.
Other participants who represented Namibia were Hanneley Cloete, Silvanus Nepolo, Dione-Claire van Wyk and Fillemon Hamukoto - all fashion graduates and fashion students from the College of the Arts. Kavari will automatically attend the 2024 edition of SITA as a special guest as part of his prize.
*Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based communications specialist, blogger and freelance fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on X
– rukeeveni and Instagram @rukeekaakunga.