| Young fashionsta whose star is rising | Send to a friend |
| Sunday, 29 January 2012 09:18 |
  (Summary) Dominiki Godfrey might be what many call a novice in the fashion industry but he is already making wavesBy Erick Mchome Ten years ago, not many Tanzanian parents would give their blessings to a child who wanted to try his or her hands in the fashion industry. Fashion did not exist. Not only was the industry unrewarding – but also then, it was regarded as a field of losers, those with nothing serious to do. So, the ideal jobs for many were in the medical field, or banking and finance. Pursuing a career in these fields not only meant a luxurious living (real or imagined), but also high reputation for the family. It was, however, during this same period that Dominiki Godfrey, then a little boy, saw a light at the end of the dark tunnel that the fashion industry seemed to be. Maybe fashion was not a dark industry, after all. Maybe it’s people obsessed with the so-called traditional highly paying careers, who created the wrong impression. At a time when everyone around him seemed not to fancy a career in fashion, little Dominiki had a role model, the one who made him believe even more in the industry in which he is now a force to reckon with. “My mother has always been a fashionista, and so, since my childhood I have always admired her style,” says the 24-year-old. As a little boy, he had not many people to emulate except his mothers. Even names like Ally Rehmtullah and Mustafa Hassanali were unheard of then, not in Dar es Salaam, not anywhere in Tanzania. However, things have changed. The fashion industry has made huge strides. It’s become a career to pursue for many, young and old. It has also become a highly competitive field, where only the sharpest brains make it to the top. It is in this cutthroat market that over 10 years since his dream to make it in fashion, Dominiki has carved his niche. Practically, he has not been in the field for too long, but he is rising by leaps and bounds. “Joining the industry as early as I had wanted was impossible because my parents insisted that I finish school first before venturing into fashion,” says the Arusha born fashionsta. “But my mother had started grooming me by telling me to design clothes for myself and my friends. I did not have money to do anything big, so I started by adding flavor to new T-shirts,” he recalls. Dominiki would tear a piece of kitenge and stitch it to a T-shirt to make it unique. “People slowly started to admire the T-shirts I wore,” says Dominiki. After completing his A-levels, Dominiki joined Tumaini University, Dar es Salaam College, to pursue a law degree. He completed his studies last year. But as he was waiting to join the School of Law to complete his degree and practice law, a door opened for him to enter the fashion industry. A quick move “I heard about a designers’ competition during the Swahili Fashion Week, and I thought I could give a try,” he says. It was one kick, one goal. Dominiki entered the competition and made it to the finals. He did not emerge the winner, but he enjoyed the limelight. Henceforth, it has been a stream of joy for the young designer. Unlike many of his peers, he did not struggle to get his work recognised. “I believe I started at a big stage – the Swahili Fashion Week brings together designers from East and Central Africa, “ he says, adding: “To me, this enormous uplift is like a dream come true. I count myself a lucky man.” Indeed, Dominiki has all the reasons to count himself lucky. In two months, he was invited to showcase at four different fashion shows in Dar es Salaam, despite being a novice. And now, the soft-spoken young man is putting all his efforts to making sure his unique designs attract every youth. “It does not have to end on the stage. I have to get down to the people to enjoy full success,” he says. “What I am doing is to mix traditional and modern,” says Dominiki of his Afro-modern designs. Designing clothes for men Dominiki has chosen a path many local designers shun, seemingly due to a poor response from the market – designing clothes for men. “My main aim is to attract even the youth to wear my designs with jeans or official trousers for any occasion.” Dominiki, who likes to follow in the footsteps of Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, has already attracted attention beyond the Tanzanian and East African borders. Just a few weeks ago, the UK-based RISTA Magazine approached the young fashionsta to feature him in the magazine. Although his family, especially his father, gives him a lot of support, Dominiki feels the real secret to making it in fashion is having the best materials and finish. “Sometimes you might have money but you cannot get the best material for the best idea you have in mind, so you end up having a final product, which is weak,” he says. He also thinks that Tanzanian designers need to be more creative, because the trend shows that most designers have the same designs, which differ only in colour. “It is too bad that some designers seem not to invest in their time to think out of the box. Everything starts with a thought – even the high rise buildings we see today started off as an idea.” Still, Dominiki has a strong belief that he will make a difference in the local fashion industry. He says: “I have a big dream for this industry, and I believe it will come to pass.” He challenges locals to change their mentality that whatever produced in Tanzania has no value compared to international products. Ends UTILITY What do others say about Dominiki? Mustafa Hassanali: Fashion designer and organizer of Swahili Fashion Week “He has a bright future in the fashion industry. The fact that he is concentrating on men’s clothes means he will go far because very few designers are capable of doing men’s clothes. On top of that Dominiki is passionate about what he is doing; this is a strong tool to success.” Gabriel Mollel: Fashion Designer “Dominiki is a person who does not get satisfied easily. For a short time that he has joined the industry his ambition to become the best designer can be seen. He network with people to learn and always tries to come up with unique ideas.” Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
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