Mawanza Glenn’s dream is to launch his first clothing line on the grandest stage in the fashion world: Guyana Fashion Weekend. The only impediment to that dream is sponsorship.
Mawanza, 18, says he has always been captivated by women and to clothe them is an important role. “The whole image of a woman being one of God’s greatest creations… just to clothe that image is a very important role, an important task.”
Mawanza who comes from a line of artistic people, said be began sketching about 10 years ago. “I’m trying very hard to establish myself,” he told The Scene. Besides designing and creating pieces for a private clientele, Mawanza had participated in the Facts Fashion Arts and Creativity by talented students’ competition a few years back. He made it to the finals of the competition but did not place.
But now Mawanza wants to make a big impact on the fashion world here and he has chosen the grandest stage of them all. If he makes it to Guyana Fashion Weekend which is scheduled for this month, Mawanza’s first line will be a ready to wear collection called “Buzz”.
An agriculture student in school, Mawanza says he draws his inspiration for the line from bees which were one of his favourite studies while he did the subject. “Bees are a very simple yet sophisticated; they stand out in society,” he said.
Likewise, his line draws the colour pattern of bees and utilises “a light material” with ribbon work included. “Buzz”, according Glenn “is a simple and sophisticated” and persons who wear his line are guaranteed to stand out. “Guyanese; we’re a kind of people who love to look good,” says Mawanza and his designs he believes fits that style.
He hopes to début a 22-piece collection which he has already sketched. The young designer is waging everything on making it to Fashion Weekend. He went as far as resigning from his job “to focus on my work”. Even his other activities outside of designing have been neglected to so that he can focus on making his dreams a reality.
Also a dancer, Mawanza admits that he has neglected some of his classes. Making a name for himself right now is everything to him, “As a designer, I hope that when I launch my line Guyana and the foreign media that will be there will actually see my potential,” says Mawanza.
But if he does not get sponsorship, Mawanza says that he will continue to design and wait for the next Guyana Fashion Weekend. “If I don’t get through with this dream I’ll find another job and I’ll continue to designing. We have to realise only quitters fail and with God’s will if His time is not my time I’ll be designing another time.”
