2025 Business program
Day 01 - Fireside Chat
Beyond the cart: Building Ethical E-Commerce for African Creatives
This discussion brought together Rumbi Chirumbwana (HCF – Head of Retail & Sustainability), Francis London (US-based fashion designer), and Koki Kamala (Motswana Fashion Designer) for a thought-provoking fireside conversation on the future of digital retail for African fashion brands. Held at Hyatt Regency Harare, The Meikles – The Retail Salon, the discussion explored how creatives can move beyond simply being online to building e-commerce systems rooted in storytelling, transparency, and cultural integrity. Framed through the lens of Hunhu, the speakers reflected on balancing efficiency with human connection, the challenges of scaling ethically, and the importance of elements like packaging, delivery, and post-sale care in building global trust. The session ultimately challenged dominant “growth at all costs” models, offering a more intentional, community-driven vision for how African creatives can redefine the global e-commerce landscape.
Day 01 - Panel Discussion
Culture as a capital: music, beauty, fashion, and design in a changing world
Held on 9 October 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Harare, this panel brought together leading creatives and industry voices to explore how culture is evolving into a powerful economic and social asset. Through perspectives spanning music, beauty, fashion, and art, the speakers examined how African and diasporic creativity is shaping global influence, generating value, and redefining ownership and narrative control. The discussion addressed critical questions around fair compensation, cross-border collaboration, and the balance between creative integrity and commercial success, highlighting both the opportunities and structural barriers within the creative economy while calling for more equitable and sustainable systems for cultural producers.
Speakers: Kay Terera ( Moderator), Valerie Kabov (First floor Gallery Director), Kelli Barker (Makeup Professional), Kyla Blac (Music Artist), Usher Nyambi (Samora Central Founder)
Day 02 Fireside discussion
The Fabric of Value: rediscovering zimbabwean textiles in a global fashion future
Moderated by Makeba Boateng Utip (Fashion Forum Africa) and featuring Sajal Agarwal of David Whitehead textiles and local fashion designer, Danayi Madondo, this discussion explored the contrasting global and local perceptions of Zimbabwean textiles, particularly cotton. The conversation highlighted how international markets often recognize Zimbabwean materials as luxury, prompting reflection on why this value is not equally acknowledged locally. From both manufacturing and design perspectives, the speakers examined opportunities to shift Zimbabwe from a raw-material supplier to a value-driven fashion ecosystem, emphasizing storytelling, policy, and collaboration. Grounded in the principle of Hunhu, the discussion underscored the importance of cultural pride, economic sovereignty, and collective responsibility in redefining the future of Zimbabwean fashion.
Day 02 Panel Discussion
Streetwear without borders: urban fashion, identity, & the new creative Economy
This panel explored how streetwear has evolved from a niche subculture into a powerful global language of youth identity, resistance, and entrepreneurship. Bringing together designers and cultural innovators from across different regions, the discussion examined how streetwear bridges local expression and global relevance, blurring the lines between luxury and DIY, commerce and community. Speakers reflected on authenticity, the influence of culture and early inspirations, and the challenge of building meaningful brands in a fast-moving, hype-driven industry. The conversation also highlighted the growing visibility of African and diasporic fashion, emphasizing the importance of community, cultural grounding, and redefining success beyond profit as designers scale their impact globally.
Speakers: Walter Chipambwa (Moderator, HCF – Head of Education), Francis London (USA Designer, UGLY DUKLYN), Anesu Mhembere (ZW Fashion stylist, Minister of white linen), Brett Van Rooyen (ZW Designer, Faith Wear), Tafadzwa Moyo (ZW Designer, Kidd Hunta)
Day 03 Fireside Chat
delivering sustainability: circular fashion, community-led production & systems of care
Moderated by Rumbi Chirumbwana (HCF – Head of Retail & Sustainability) and featuring Jane Taylor (Collaborative Crafts Projects) and Pia Hintz (Empowerment Design Studio), explored sustainability beyond materials, positioning it as a holistic system rooted in values, community, and cultural consciousness. The conversation examined circular fashion through an African lens, emphasizing community-led production, ethical collaboration, and the full lifecycle of garments—from origin to storytelling. Grounded in the philosophy of Hunhu, the session highlighted the importance of dignity, shared responsibility, and inclusive systems in shaping a fashion future that is both sustainable and just.
Day 03 Panel discussion
reimagining zimbabwe's fashion industry: policy, innovation, & global competitiveness
The panel discussion, Reimagining Zimbabwe’s Fashion Industry: Policy, Innovation, and Global Competitiveness, brought together influential voices from across the creative, retail, and policy sectors to explore the future of Zimbabwean fashion and its role in national development. Moderated by Walter Chipambwa (Head of Education at the Hunhu Council of Fashion), the conversation featured insights from Napoleon Nyanhi ( Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe); Makeba Boateng (Founder of Fashion Forum Africa, Ghana); Yvonne Ndawana (Quality Assurance Manager at Edgars Stores Zimbabwe); Simon Udemba (Founder & CEO of Gliding Star); and Priscilla Chigariro (Founder of Zimbabwe Fashion Week). The panel examined the structural, policy, and investment opportunities needed to strengthen Zimbabwe’s fashion ecosystem while preserving cultural authenticity and increasing global competitiveness. Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration among government, private-sector stakeholders, and international partners in positioning fashion as a viable driver of economic growth, innovation, and youth empowerment.
