A night of fashion appeal at ‘Strings Attached’

Dar es Salaam. Fashion lovers in Dar es Salaam were treated to a night of glamour in what can be termed as the event of the year so far.

 Fashion designer Ally Rehmtullah pulled off at his grand ‘Strings Attached’ fashion event is unprecedented in Tanzania’s fashion scene – something that left an impression on those in attendance.

Serena Hotel was the setting which befitted the stature and anticipation that had been built leading to the fashion night. For anyone with a thing for fashion, this was the place to be.

As the waves of the Indian Ocean made swift sounds on a chilly night, few meters from the shore a fashion crowd composed of a diverse group of fashion enthusiasts, some of whom had travelled from other countries, was about to witness fashion greatness.

While some guests were getting up close and personal with models and other designers who’d come to support their own, others were enjoying a free-range of drinks that kept flowing. The ambiance was reminiscent of a fashion night out in New York or Paris, save for the added ocean scenery that made this event even more glamorous.

The hype that often surrounds fashion shows in Tanzania only circulates amongst the few who’re keen on what’s trending in the fashion world. Social media posts quickly go viral, and every model – experienced and newbies, try to be a part of the experience – one way or the other.

Rehmtullah is known for his grand fashion events that happen once a year – on a single day. This makes it even more exciting. Each year seems to best the other, a feat hard to match, but not entirely impossible. The fashion designer attributes this ‘once a year’ schedule to the cost and hard work that is required to organise a fashion show. “I invest a lot of time into organising a fashion show, it is costly too. I do it once a year because I want it to be perfect. If I do something, I want it to be great, otherwise I’d rather not do it,” he says.

The opening act(s) of the night acted as a precursor of what was to follow. The Muses, a South African electric string quartet based in Johannesburg, had everyone awestruck as they burst onto the stage. The all-girl power-band, dressed in all-white, put up a well-rounded performance, with their instrumental work receiving applauds from the crowd. From Adele’s Rolling in the deep, to Camila Cabello’s Havana, each song was performed with such dexterity as the crowd looked on in amazement.

The runway show

With backup instrumentals from The Muses, the first model of the night made her way onto the runway. She showcased the first design of the 30 that Rehmtullah had in store for the show. The scene was like something from a staged Hollywood fashion gala – with great music and beautiful designs in tow.

Rehmtullah’s designs were inspired by the trending global theme of layers. “I played around with layers in my designs, I wanted to capture what’s currently trending in the fashion world, but also mix it up a bit with a theme that resonates with the market,” he says.

Jojo Gordian, one of the models who walked the runway, spoke highly of this year’s fashion show. With 3 years’ experience in the local fashion industry, she rates Rehmtullah’s fashion galas among the top fashion shows in Tanzania.

 “Each year he comes up with something different. I liked how he incorporated the electric string quartet into the show. The blend was amazing and they provided the right fusion of music as we [models] walked down the runway,” she says.

With over 11 years in the fashion industry, Rehmtullah has mastered the art of perfection. What the audience got to witness on the fashion night speaks volume on his designs repertoire. It is such variety and creativity that the Tanzanian fashion industry needs more of from its designers.

Creativity that is not confined to the boundaries of fabric design – the stage-set, and all other accompanying elements should be creatively infused into the entire show to bring out a uniform theme not blurred by mismatch.

Fashion Journalist Lillian Masuka, was on site to capture every second of what was unfolding. Known for her keen sense of style, she applauded Rehmetullah’s efforts in uplifting the local fashion industry. “He [Rehmtullah] has been doing an amazing job for years. This year was no different,” she says.

Commenting on the model’s makeup, Lillian says it was impeccable. “I loved the consistency and uniformity of the makeup on the models. This area has been constantly criticized due to designers’ sole focus on outfits, forgetting about the makeup, so I commend Rehmtullah for his attention to details in all aspects,” she adds. She did, however, critique the shoe selection. “I hope next time Rehmtullah can get a shoe sponsor to provide shoes that blend well with the outfits.”

The stage décor, filled with lights and chandeliers, made the entire spectacle even more appealing. When it came to the red carpet moment, there was plenty of scrutinize as celebrities, dressed in all sorts of fashionable ensembles, made their way into the venue.

The show lasted for about 90 minutes. It was an hour and half filled with style, excitement and memorable entertainment.