Nigeria based designer sets eyes on local turf
By Showbiz Writer
United Kingdom born and Nigeria based Zimbabwean designer Danielle Allen has decided to strengthen her footprint on home turf.
Allen was in the country first week of September where she showcased at The Edge, a fashion show organised by local designers at Fife Avenue Athienitis and also took the opportunity to work on ground work to set up her second shop in the country.
According to her public relations manager Fungai Manuel, Allen has strong belief in Zimbabwean business opportunities.
“Allen is a British born entrepreneur of Zimbabwean heritage who has always had a passion for designing. She decided to launch a fashion house in her motherland Zimbabwe in October 2013 while the factory is in Nigeria where she is currently based,” said Manuel.
“Her trust in the motherland and with Africa at heart, has been the foremost reasons of investing her time and money in Western Africa and beyond as she now finds herself investing in Africa as a whole. As a designer she is a perfectionist.
“She has only scratched the surface of her plans to take Zimbabwe by the horns, putting them on the map is her end goal.”
Allen has in recent year bagged awards like Awards Best Fashion House in Zimbabwe 2015, Best Dressed Red Carpet Most flamboyant female in Zimbabwe 2015, Best dressed female 2015 Emerging Designer of The Year 2014 and Creative Visionary Award 2015.
“I can safely say she is an extrovert and one serious business lady. She started doing business at the age of eighteen and since then she has been expanding her business wings to international arenas. She is also well traveled,” said Manuel.
Manuel expressed gratitude to stylist Craig Zoowie, Kevin The Wedding Planner and Ammara Brown for their support at The Edge.
“Zimbabweans will always go far with collaborations. Danielle travelled all the way from Nigeria to support her fellow designers and i think with such kind of collaborations the industry will grow,” he said.
