HARARE – Ankara fabric got its name from a mispronunciation of the Capital or Ghana ACCRA which was central in popularizing this Dutch wax fabric. The fabric was trying to enter Indonesian markets and created a cheaper one, which was rejected by Indonesians but made its way into West African upper class and middle class culture.
HARARE – Hello Darlings, writers block and life becoming overbearing had me wanting to write this for weeks. So here we go, as a company we decided to go fully African Print when an aunt who closed her African retail sent her stock.
HARARE – Ever since I decided to put African Print clothing as the headline item in my shop I have a lot of mixed feelings about how clients feel about it. I would say a certain generation and group within generations think of it as a backward, Old Nollywood attire.
When someone suggested I bring back the blog I thought to myself, why should I share content when I am going through some rough patches. However this blog was never about the fab life, it was sharing the realities of my life which are not always rosey and as simple as can be.
HARARE, Zimbabwe – The year is starting and I cannot contain how excited I am to be alive first and foremost and able to make great clothes that people love as well.
Last year I lost a very important part of my soul, grandma Josephine who was in full support for HAMBA from the time in Lilongwe. Being able to share the beauty of life through my art. I am truly grateful!
I therefore love how the bomber jacket has been my favourite piece from the beginning.
To date there are four versions of the bomber.
Version 1: It was lined in pongee and mainly had khakhi sleeves as the signature look the contrast was everything.
Version 3: Crop Bomber adds a different proportion for women to show their waist and less bulky look.
Version 4: Zipper bomber for extra security has zippers for pockets
We keep getting better and we keep making the all weather bomber jacket for everyone!
Update 2024
I still love the bomber JACKET!!!
Xoxo
Robin
HARARE, Zimbabwe – Starting the fashion label was bumpy and very taxing as I created a collection for Lilongwe in 2017.
In 2018 I saw myself creating brand new clothing from materials inspired by Africa and fitness.
We emerged with a fusion of athleisure and glam feminine looks to our classic Bomber jacket which has four versions to date.
The African Print Bomber original, Puffy Bomber, Cropped Bomber, Zip Detailed Bomber.
2018 found us having two photoshoots. Our timely shoot was with South African photojournalist, Refenste Sebothoma. He has worked with Khosi Nkosi and MAHONE labels in South Africa to name a few.
Order yourself a bomber and other fancy clothing from HAMBA now available for sale on PAYPAL, USD and Rands.
Wear it at a festival, concert, luxury hotel, high tea, wedding, romantic date or at the mall you are sure to wear a HAMBA piece from a chilled weekend to a lit situation!
Xoxo
Robin
Harare, Zimbabwe – I recall starting this blog as a tumblr account on a dialup connection with ZOL as well as my moms HP computer which was for her company. If I had seen that in a few years I was going to have a collection in Malawi and clothes shot in Johannesburg I would have never believed.
I started very small but driven. I had a web camera for my content. Imagine a laptop on the ground as I took pictures of my shoe finds.
Often we forget where we came from. How much has been done to fuel a dream. Often making us feel ungrateful when we look back 5 years ago how one dream to start a blog has turned into a business from travel to fashion.
In 2014 I started Ngosikadzi and the designer I worked with, was a mess. In 2017 I met Michelle Hakata as a boss of mine ended up teaching me how to run a fashion line. A senior media person taught me how to start a fashion line! Mentors are found everywhere.
The point I am making is there is no need to get bogged down in getting trained before you find that drive to work with what you have access to.
Today could be the beginning of a new journey into unknown territory…your obstacle is YOU as much as your enabler is YOU. What side of you are you going to let dominate you.
Just do it. As long as you do something you learn.
Xoxo
Robin
A month since my last blog post but more than a year since I have been completely open and blogger like on this platform. So here I am, Concrete Jungle Fashionista back to do what I began years ago, which is share too much information.
For the past three years I was defined by my employer so in May I quit my job to pursue a project I call freedom. The freedom project was when I decided it was time to turn my life around.
A complete change started when I was miserable in my job for over 12 months of absolute misery, then I started gaining weight. It crept up slowly over several months of eating crap and not moving an inch.
I went to the Doctor and my body was in bad shape from all the misery at work. See people say that work things should not affect you, but it does get to be a stress at a certain point. It stemmed from actual harassment from people abusing power to make my experience hell. The sad thing is the level of presence of these individuals when they greet me as if they care how I am. (Bish Please).
I got prescribed mild anti depressants, instead of medicating myself while under misery I decided to fight off the negative energy through exercise.
In two weeks I realized how exercise is like fighting for a dream, putting in the work discipline and mental resilience taught me this was more about my need to start my venture as hamba now and have FREEDOM.
Back with a bang!
So here I am free to express myself and mostly live my dream and running away from negative feeling. Exercise has given me a level of achievement I cannot imagine to explain.
In 6 months I have lost 13 kilograms and have learnt a lot about hard work and myself in the process.
So far the leap of faith has resulted in events in my life I will be sharing weekly, more than once that include the following,
Travelling around Africa for festivals
Debut Fashion Collection in Lilongwe
The truth about travel tips and sheer comedy when traveling
Here is to a new chapter in my life, it feels good to be back and stronger than ever before😍!
x.o.x.o
robz
The flag, That Flag of Zimbabwe is now commonly known as #ThisFlag, can no longer we worn as a scarf, as 2016 revealed a rebellion associated with wearing it as a scarf. So how can we show off Zimbabwe, even as a souvenir to tourist.
Meet AMAZIMZIM, or simply AMZZ A Zimbabwean clothing line that says, I am a Zimbabwean, in a proud manner.
African print adds flair to any outfit. It says absolute African and modern when accessories are clad in fabrics inspired by AFRICA.
Ola from Moçambique! HAMBA now my travel company is going to African festivals and we saw backpacks at Azgo Festival and bought ourselves one for the laptop baggage.
I got tourist price as my chaperone wasn’t prepared for the haggle as I am a genius at it. I ended up buying an extra bag and after asking my close people they loved the bag. Turns out this is a hot trend in accessories. Street wear Afro chic every fashionista should own.
Limited stock of the backpacks. A few will be made available from us. Source @ms_tatchai Instagram
I only have a few with $40 each, $70 for two, or $100 for three patchwork bags. I also have earrings and bangles in supply. Having got myself some souvenir Tshirts as well.
A trendy backpack in Kitenge
There is so much inspiration out there on this must have trend.
Source Pinterest
xoxo
Robin
Concrete Jungle Blog 