Fawzia Osman launches Mkanda Accessories: Organizes fashion show to fundraise for persons with albinism
Fawzia Osman of Mkanda accessories and SAC make-up will be launching their products on the 25th June 2016 at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe in a fashion show themed “A Night of Fashion and Glam,” where some of the proceeds will be donated to APAM (Association for People with Albanism in Malawi) which is a non-governmental organization that aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma against albinism and to improve the status of persons with albinism in Malawi.
SAC cosmetics which was founded in August last year, is a quality and affordable Malawian cosmetics brand formulated for African skin tones.
“My inspiration comes from seeing the amount of women who are wearing the wrong colour foundation because most make-up brands don’t really cater for majority of the African skin tones and also the prices on the market are too expensive for the average low income ladies” says Shabnaam Hubbe, the founder.
SAC which is already sold in some outlets in both Lilongwe and Blantyre aims to be a household name in Malawi and its neighbouring countries.
Whereas Mkanda accessories by Fawzia Osman consist of neckpieces, headwraps, purses, bangles and plans on introducing belts and shoes in the near future.
Mkanda which means beads aims to be Malawi’s pride and a hub that empowers rural women.
“The beads will be made in Malawi because I want to empower women. I have women from the villages or slums that I will train in and employ because I want this to be something Malawian will claim as their own and have pride in,” Osman said.
Apart from donating some of the proceeds being donated to APAM, 500 brim hats will be donated to children with albinism so they can go and stay in school
. All in solidarity and all the efforts going on in the country to stop the violence against people with Albinism. Some of the children with albinism will be modelling at the fashion show too.
Both SAC and Mkanda will be accompanied on the runaway with designs by some of Malawi’s renowned fashion designer like Alinafe Misomali who is a Malawian fashion designer formerly based in Ghana.
This will be Alinafe’s first show since her return to Malawi.
Other designers include Nellie George of Nellie’s secret possessions and 14yr old Tawile of Tazma who both who just successfully showcased their designs at the Tshwane Fashion Festival in South Africa two months ago, former Big Brother Africa contestant Felicia Ngoma of Nyasabrands and Goodwill of Men’s bling things.
Apart from the designers making brim hats for children with albinism as a showcasing fee to be part of the fashion show, they will also auction the outfits straight from the runway. Guests will also be treated to a special performance by Tay Grin.
There will also be gifts bags for VIP tickets purchasers. Ticket sales range from K12000 VIP to K6000 standard
Around 10,000 Malawians live with albinism, a noncontagious, genetic condition in which the skin, hair and eyes lack pigment, but each day they face discrimination and the increase in their attacks lately has left them terrified.
According to Amnesty International, since November 2014 in Malawi, at least 18 people with albinism have been killed, and at least five have been abducted and remain missing.
The organization suspects the real numbers are much higher because most of the crimes are not reported.
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