Sometimes when fashion designers are put together in a group show, it can be difficult to find one who really stands out. But when they do stand out in such a setting, somehow it makes them even more noteworthy. Such was the case when I attended the Nolcha Fashion Week independent designer showcase yesterday. There were puffy seams, ill-fitting gowns, and then in the midst of it all was the rejuvenating presence of Maita Marimo.
Marimo is a Zimbabwean designer who graduated from the School at the Art Institute of Chicago and has shown at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa. She was also selected as Zimbabwe’s Fashion Week Designer of the Year in 2012. For her Spring/Summer 2014 collection, Marimo showed smart, well-made daywear in a cream tone and evening wear in black, both with a fine attention to detail. Her cuts (pleats on tops and even pant hems) were innovative and refreshing, as were her uses of trim and color (including but not limited to fun uses of snake patterns on dresses and lapels, bursts of tangerine on belts, and bright gold beading). A favorite piece was a cream jumper with tangerine-piped snake print lapels. I wished for a fabulous office building to report to every day just so I could wear it! I also loved a particular piece from Marimo’s take on evening wear, with a black printed jacket and tangerine belt worn with black shorts topped by long sheer black ball skirt. I look forward to seeing more from Marimo in the future.
Cheers to Marimo for making my trek out to Chelsea totally worth it! Take a look at some of my favorite looks from the collection below, photos by me.