Zimbabwean Fashion Brand Bantu Looks to Take African Culture Globally
For Kelly Ndlovu, the creative director of the Bantu fashion brand, the dream is simple that is to bring the rich cultures and traditions of her homeland to the world through the power of fashion.
“We want to export our culture through fashion,” Kelly said during an interview at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo.
She added, “As a fashion brand, we believe there’s something that we can export as a nation. We can export our culture through fashion.”
Drawing Inspiration
Bantu has been bringing that vision to life over the past two years, manufacturing clothing and accessories that draw inspiration from a wide array of African traditions. At this year’s ZITF, the brand showcased its latest collection, “Bantu Made From Bamboo,” which incorporates elements from Tonga, Ute Ndebele, and other cultures.
“This collection is called the Bantu made from bamboo. Bantu incorporates different cultures of bamboo,” Kelly explained.
She further explained, “And we put them under one collection. This is like just a sneak peek of the collection. But we also have things that are all different. We’ve got different books. We’ve got your kiddies here. We’ve got your friends here. All of these are all inspired by some other stories.”
Influencers
The diversity of influences reflected in Bantu’s designs is a testament to the brand’s mission to celebrate the richness of African heritage. From Tonga-inspired outfits to garments honouring the Ute people, each piece tells a story that Kelly hopes will resonate with both local and international audiences.
“We want the diasporans that are in the UK to be proud of their culture. We want them to wear their culture in Dubai and tell their stories of their roots in the country,” Kelly said.
That global ambition is a key part of Bantu’s five-year plan, which Kelly outlined in the interview. In the next half-decade, the brand aims to establish a presence not just in Zimbabwe, but across the region and around the world.
Five Year Vision
“In five years time we see ourselves having established quite a number of branches, regionally and internationally,” Kelly said.
She added, “The vision is to get each and every outfit here, each and every piece, each and every culture, in Zimbabwe, in the region, in Botswana, South Africa, in the UK, in Dubai.”
By bringing these diverse cultural influences to new markets, Kelly believes Bantu can inspire pride and connection among the African diaspora, allowing them to celebrate their roots through fashion.
The Diaspora
“We want the people in the diaspora that are in the UK to be proud of their culture. We want them to wear their culture in Dubai and tell their stories of their roots in the country,” she said.
The opportunity to showcase Bantu’s vision at the ZITF is one that Kelly is deeply grateful for, crediting the event’s organisers for helping to facilitate the brand’s growth.
“We’re quite excited to get this opportunity from Zim Train to be able to train and just be here,” she said.
And based on the response Bantu has received so far at the trade fair, that excitement is well-founded. Kelly reported that the brand has been “receiving a lot of great confidence” from potential clients, with many eager to purchase the unique, culture-infused pieces on display.
Exciting Prospects
“We’ve been receiving a lot of clients who want to purchase a lot of books. And we’re quite excited to be here,” she said.
As Bantu looks ahead to the next five years and beyond, Kelly is confident that the brand’s mission to export Zimbabwean culture to the world will only continue to gain momentum.
“So in five years’ time, we want to experience Pantino by saying, let’s take the fashion to Zimbabwe,” she said.
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