Where African Fashions Meet the Stylish Traveler
Shangani Fashion, a fashion label making its debut presentation at New York Fashion Week, features modern styles with touches of classic accessories. The fashion designs of Shangani blend culture and fashion, taking inspiration from the Shangani tribe, a group of people living near the Shangani River in Zimbabwe whose name means “traveler” after their founder. The brand itself draws influence from the experiences of travel and the diverse cultural exposure that comes with it.
The designers at Shangani Fashion combine their travel encounters with vibrant ethnic patterns and modern silhouettes to produce a fashion-forward, off-the-rack style. Shangani Fashions is enthusiastic about the fusion of conventional African textiles with a contemporary twist.
The design duo collaborating on the aesthetics are Fashion Designers Mary Moore and Elesia Peterman. Moore is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe and a world traveler. “My inspirations are fusions of my cultural, travel experiences and my Zimbabwean heritage and styles. Shoppers will find divers influences from the Caribbean, European and Middle-Eastern expressions in my fashions. I enjoy mixing various African influences with a contemporary cut and shape for a modernized look. And the result is a ready-to-wear brand that is suitable for all occasions” explains Mary Moore.
“My creative inspiration comes from a fusion of time, epoch periods and cultures, while remaining Afrocentric”. States Elesia Peterman. “I want our line to show that African print transcends. The looks can be worn strictly as traditional wear, but the looks can also be incorporated in business and everyday casual use. What makes our line unique is that it isn’t just an African meets Western cohesion. Our goal is to reach and inspire a much bigger market. Our line is an international fusion. Also, being a millennial, I feel I can relate with the style trends my peers are excited about.. I want to use clothing design as my voice and demonstration of creativity.”
Shangani provides clothing options for men and women, with plans to grow their men’s line in future seasons. Their clothing is versatile and can be worn as business casual or formal wear. The brand uses high-quality materials such as 100% cotton, Dutch Wax print, denim, and unique blends for their designs. Additionally, they offer handcrafted travel bags and clutches to complement their Afro-inspired aesthetic. Accessories such as earrings, bracelets, and shoes are also available to add a touch of elegance to any outfit.
Credits:
Macintosh Smith (Runway Photography)
Francena Ottley (In Studio Photography )
SHANGANI FASHIONS
Mary Moore
Elesia Peterman
Harare, Zimbabwe
Elesia Peterman
