Expressing emotions, feelings and thoughts is often regarded as a mammoth task by many people as they tumble and falter in-between, due to either fear or lack of courage to do so. However, this is not so often to those who were born with nerves of steel and the love to call a spade a spade.
Talented fashion designer-cum-musician, Ngoni Brian Motsi, is one of the kind, as he has over the years, expressed his thoughts and feelings through fashion and music.
Having discovered his forte at an early age, Motsi always loathed or never felt satisfied in the clothes that were available to his own disposal, hence leading him to start thinking of how best to dress himself.
This feeling developed for some years and later saw him as he came of age, falling in love with different fabrics that later birthed his career.
In an interview with Harare Magazine Motzi says that, his was never a mater of academic qualifications to put together different outfits for both male and females, but it was ingrained in him.
“I am a fashion designer, but also sing R ‘n’ B and Hip hop and also run an NGO called Young Offenders Getting Empowered,” says Motsi, adding that, “I opened my label ‘Chenaneni’ two years ago and I have done quite a number of local shows, including the September Issue and also part of Miss Tourism 2016, Miss University of Zimbabwe (2016).
“Besides, I also stock my clothes and supply at Cindy’s Corner, I have worked with Titan and Ammara Brown on Mukoko Video, 8L Hip hop artist, models including Floret who is current Miss Harare Junior among others.”
On his designs, Motzi does not select, as he make exquisite pieces for both males and females for anytime events.
“I do not specialize, but do clothes for both males and females, while at times do orders, if I am not doing for shows. Most of my clients are females. As my labels says, ‘Chenaneni,’ is for an up fashion person, someone who is willing to experiment, willing to go an extra mile when it comes to fashion.
“I put a lot of detail, I work with a lot of dense fabric for somebody who wants to look elegant mainly a luxury brand, which means it is a brand for special occasions,” he says.
Commenting on where he draws his inspiration, the slander designer says, “I draw my inspiration from the reactions I get from people after they wear my clothes and it inspires me more, because I always want whoever wears my garment to look elegant, like a queen or king.
“My entry into fashion during the time when I started making my own clothes, leading to people coming to me for fashion advice and clothes. I also went on to make some for my siblings and there was a certain point I realized that I could venture into business and did a lot of research in it.”
After hosting his first two fashion shows and seeing a great following from people, he then decided to start the label. Motzi’s talent comes naturally, as he never attended any fashion and design school. He narrates that he always had a problem with his clothes and tried to adjust them, in a way, inspiring him to get into fashion.
“My wish is to meet whoever is running fashion labels, Balmain and Pronovias (Russian). These two inspires me a lot and always pushes me to work extra harder. I want my designs to sale themselves, speak to my clients as the industry is growing, with many people going the extra mile to dress up.”
Motzi works with different fabrics obtained locally and across borders, like Zambia and also experimented with the African Java fabrics depending on the outfit. One of his dreams is to share the stage with big names internationally and appearing in the globe’s magazines.
However, he portrays his thoughts and feelings through designs and music, although it has never found its way to the national stations.
“I have recorded quite a number of songs, most of them are deemed suggestive and controversial so are not on radio. I have done quite a number of performances and look forward to releasing few songs two months or so, since people who love my music are still asking for more,” he says.
Even when push comes to shove, Motzi says he will never trade his music for fabrics and sewing machines, as he rates them the same.
“I am fine with my music being controversial touching on topics that people do enjoy discussing and that is the reason why I never chose to be a mainstream artist. I want to sing the songs I feel, that make sense to the people and continue doing designing,” he concludes.
