WHAT IS NEXT FOR CLEMOO DESIGNS

Clemoo is one of the leading fashion brands in Tanzania, owned by Tanzania’s award winning fashion designer Clement Constantine.
The brand has been viewed as one of the Best Exclusive Suits in Africa. During last year’s Global Fashion Week the brand was awarded the best,fashion brand.
My Afrikatv Mag journalist,Tapiwa Rubaya interacts with Clement Constantine as he tells us more about the Clemmo brand and we get an insight of when his releasing his next collection.TR:Can you tell us how you managed to conceive your brand ?
CO:My brand started ten years ago officially,but it was started since I was a little child after seeing and helping my mother in her tailoring mart,that is when I came to love fashion and put my heart to it.TR:Your brand chiefly is all about suits,why ?
CO:My brand is dealing with many fashion styles but its famous in designing suits that is why most people see and take my brand as suit brand,but we do make other style.TR:As a designer what is important when it comes to designing suits ?
CO:What important is the look of the one wearing the suit (clients),skin tone and other looks,quality of the fabric,theme of the event,the suit that is needed to be worn,and good measurements to perfect fit ,those are my importants keys I consider.TR:What type of fabrics do you use for your suits and are they exported or imported?
CO: I use first quality grade fabrics and sometimes second grade fabrics,for better finishing and ellegancy look of the suits and other designs I produce,different types of fabrics I use :pronto,valvet,cashmere,garbadene,viscose,velvet,twill,tweed,toile,taffeta,suede,spandex,silk,satin,polyester,organza,muslin,modal,merino,wool,linen,leather,lace,jersey,gingham,georgette,damask,crepe,cotton,chiffon,chenille,canvas etc
These fabrics some are exported and some are imported.TR:What is your take when it comes to Africa’s fashion industry especially in the suits fashion industry ?
CO:Africa’s fashion industry is growing so fast,as it is taking over the world fashion industry.
My take is African designers should continue making good suits and other designs by using all of their designing capacity,and also we should work together in one unity when it comes to fashion inorder to continue making African fashion to the top.TR:Your brand has successfully won a number of awards including Best Fashion Designer Award at Global Fashion Week last year . What did it mean to you winning the award?
CO:It means,my brand is now known, all over Africa and across the globe.
Now I am an international designer and I have to work harder and harder than before to continue keeping the stage.
I am and going to other bigger and bigger stages and getting more awards and recorginationTR:You based in Tanzania and your country faced few months of lockdown since the COVID 19 was announced in the world. However you re-opened and the world didn’t, hasn’t that affected your clients and work?
CO:It has affected my work,however I take every challenge as an opportunity,hence I continue working hard and trying to market my products online now on the other hand I am receiving clients who will be coming to mh office to purchase,this situation made me to think outside the box and put my all energy in online market.TR:Two fashion shows which you are planning to showcase your collections ?
CO:Oran Fashion Week-Algeria
-Shenen Fashion Week -EthiopiaTR:Speaking about collections when are you releasing your latest collection ?
CO:I am going to release my new collection “Itikisaeli Collection” in Oran Fashion November this year,my collection goes by the name of my mother “Itikisaeli” because she is the one who gave me loving fashion heart,after seing and working with her in her tailoring mart when i was young.
The collection will be about mixed suits with some touches of shiningfabrics,and other designs style not seen before.TR:Laslty what words of wisdom do u have to suit designers
CO:My wisdom words are”Any one not only designers who wants to reach his/her goal,should be ready to have dullness in everything he/she wants to achieve,also must be ready to sacrifice everything for his or her goal and also be ready to take every challenge or problems as an opportunity..lastly do the thing that he/she loves from the bottom of his/her heart.Check out some of their designs by following them on social media
IG:@clemoodesigner