Mozambican Fashion executive and Creative Director of the elegant meanswear brand XIPIXI, António Macheve Jr. showcased his brand’s latest collection entitled "Chamanculo" on May 22nd at Oxford in the United Kingdom. The fashion show occurred at the Gala of the annual Oxford Africa Conference.
XIPIXI means cat in the Shangana language from Southern Mozambique. Cat is universally known as a colloquial expression referring to men. XIPIXI is a lifestyle fashion brand specialized in the production of top quality menswear fashion. Inspired by Rachel Zoe’s idea that “Fashion is saying who you are without having to speak”, XIPIXI aims to give the international gentleman the opportunity to confidently express himself with aesthetically fine garments and accessories primarily using genuine African fabrics from Southern and Western Africa, particularly from Mozambique and Mali.
XIPIXI has released three collections of clothing and accessories in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is now releasing its 4th Collection named “Chamanculo”. Chamanculo is a neighbourhood located in the outskirts of Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique and city of origin of the founder of the brand who was born in the hospital of Chamanculo. More importantly than symbolizing the place of birth of the founder of XIPIXI, Chamanculo formerly represented a neighbourhood of great enjoyment and the “good life” where locals gathered to enjoy its bars and entertainment. It has, however, turned into a poor neighbourhood with weak infrastructure and poor housing conditions.
The current collection, which was showcased to the sounds of the 2013 Album “The Heroes” by Mozambican duo Simba Sitoi and Milton Gulli, sets to glorify the past state of the neighbourhood and inspire young Mozambicans, Africans and the youth around the world to aspire to excellence and to find entrepreneurial ways to address their own and their surroundings’ disturbing circumstances. Shining a light on a “forgotten” neighbourhood through an elegant and chic fashion collection is a way that the founder and designer of XIPIXI found to celebrate the past and improve the present for a better future.
The Oxford Africa Conference is one of the largest and most globally recognized African conferences of its type organized by the long-established Oxford Africa Society. It hosts 500 delegates and 60 speakers annually and was opened by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana.
As part of the program, the organizing committee of the conference selected 3 of the most promising young fashion companies in the African continent to showcase their latest collections. In addition to the XIPIXI collection from Mozambique, the brands AfroModTrends from Ghana and Ditoro Dream Designs from South Africa also showcased their latest collections for women. The fashion show was attended by professionals, academics and students across sectors. African diplomats including the Ambassador of Ghana to France, Portugal, UNESCO, and IOF, Mrs. Johanna Odonkor Svanikier Mozambique High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Carlos Dos Santos were also present and expressed their pride for the future of young African entrepreneurship. The same sentiment was expressed by the Dean of the Saïd Business School at University Oxford.
Photo credits: Andrew Gorman
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