Despite being differently abled, fashion designer Ruth Chirwa from Mzuzu, Malawi, is out to challenge perceptions of the fashion world around ability and adaptive fashion.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00This is not elitist haute couture, this is tailor-made fashion in the truest sense of
00:06the word, simply fashion for everyone, because this Malawian label offers adaptable clothing.
00:15It helps us improve our confidence, knowing for sure that we're there and competing with
00:21other fashion designers in the industry.
00:23It helps us to improve inclusivity, diversity and unity in the fashion industry.
00:32Ruth Chirua never saw herself as disabled.
00:35She has always challenged herself and has always strived for excellence.
00:40More on why her childhood dream of becoming a pilot came to nothing later.
00:44For now, let's take a look at what it means to her to be holding her first fashion show
00:49in Mzuzu, Malawi today.
00:53We showcase in culture fashion, mainly it's a fashion that you can only wear it once and
01:01most especially occasionally.
01:05I wanted to let people know that disability is not an ability in such a way that if we
01:11can come together and showcase our talents and let the world know or see what we're doing
01:20and it's also one way of letting people know that we people with disabilities, we don't
01:26only wait for donations and all that.
01:30Ruth who has been physically challenged since birth, was also the victim of a tragic accident
01:35at the age of two.
01:36Her nanny put her in hot water and then disappeared.
01:40Although Ruth was treated in hospital as quickly as possible, the injuries left her physically
01:44impaired for life.
01:46How did she cope with this terrible experience?
01:49What made her keep her faith in her fellow human beings and their willingness to learn
01:53about possible inclusion?
01:55I knew exactly where I wanted to be.
01:58I know exactly where I want to be and I know exactly what I want to be.
02:05So giving up was not a solution for me and knowing for sure that where I'm coming from,
02:13it has been hard.
02:15So it kept me going and for the fact that I had to accept myself the way I am.
02:21So that really made me to go on.
02:24Even though Ruth managed to finish school and attend a technical college, she had to
02:28give up her dream of becoming a pilot and felt condemned to a life as a seamstress.
02:33At least that's how she saw the fashion design course she was pushed into at the time.
02:38What has changed since then?
02:40After three semesters, that's when I thought that, okay, I think this is something that
02:49I can do.
02:50I kept on practicing.
02:52I kept on researching more about fashion and all that.
02:56Ruth finally graduated with a credit and an award as the top student and best fashion
03:01designer.
03:02But her journey had just begun.
03:05I managed to win an award for focus on ability short film festivals.
03:10In 2023, I managed to win an international award for Shining Stars Africa Awards.
03:15I won as the best female fashion designer.
03:18The same 2023, I managed to showcase my designs in Portugal through Riri Afonso.
03:24Ruth has never walked to say, look, notice I don't have ABCD.
03:29She comes in to say, I can do that.
03:31I can do that.
03:32She's got that commanding attitude that she says, I can do it.
03:36I like the spirit of Ruth, the way she comes in.
03:39She doesn't look at herself that way.
03:41And what she presents and how she does it, you overlook at that.
03:47The well-known fashion designer Lili Afonso is Ruth's mentor.
03:52She was the first to test her designs internationally at Portugal Fashion Week.
03:56When I started looking at these pieces after the fashion show, I was shocked.
04:02So the excitement that I had inside, if I was excited based on that, I was also behind
04:07the designs.
04:09How do you expect the person receiving it?
04:11She made for me a lot of things for two years, which I have been a customer to her.
04:15Look at this beautiful dress.
04:18She made it for me.
04:19I have lots of Shitenje made clothes, as well as shorts, whatever I want, suits.
04:25So it's a lot of things which I made through her collection.
04:30With her current collection, Ruth Chirwa has reached yet another milestone on her journey
04:35to inclusion.
04:36I'm focusing on continuing uplifting my fellow fashion designers, most especially those people
04:43with disabilities.
04:45And we're looking forward to have trainings and we're looking forward to hosting more
04:50fashion events, promoting inclusivity, promoting unity, diversity, and promoting the skills
05:00and talents that people with disabilities have.
05:05In five to 10 years, I see myself as being one of the best fashion designers to come
05:10out of Malawi, me showcasing outside Malawi, being known to other countries.
05:18Ruth Chirwa shows us what inclusion looks like with every stitch in every tiny piece
05:23of fabric.
05:24Fashion for all, inclusive fashion, and an inclusive life, making that possible is her
05:31passion.