Tuesday, March 3, 2020 15 Reports by Catherine W Gichuki For events and press releases email Catherine W Gichuki [email protected] or Catherine W Gichuki African Panorama call (974) 4000 2222 Catherine W Gichuki

South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Moosa, his spouse Anika Moosa (centre) who is the president of African (From left) President of African Women’s Diplomatic Group Anika Moosa and South African Ambassador to Qatar HE Faizel Women’s Diplomatic Group, with other officials at the event. Moosa at a memento presentation ceremony at the event. African Women’s Diplomatic Garden showcases exclusive designs at QF The event was held recently to mark the Qatar Environment Day wherein trees were planted in association with Qur’anic Botanic Garden and African Women’s Diplomatic Group odels walked the ramp at an signer of the Seychelles Fashion Week. event to showcase exclusive “Hopefully, in a few weeks from now, I creations from RomeoPaul De- will be in Kenya for the eFashion Week,” Ro- signs during the launch of the meo said. African Women’s Diplomatic He started displaying his designs during Garden,M at Qatar Foundation’s Qur’anic the ‘It’s Time For Africa’ and ‘Mama Africa’ Botanic Garden recently. at the Sealine Beach Resort which was a great The event was held to mark Qatar Envi- platform to showcase his designs with an Af- ronment Day wherein trees were planted in rican touch. association with Qur’anic Botanic Garden He uses fabrics with bright colours to and the African Women’s Diplomatic Group. design his outfits. Talking about the reason Meanwhile, some 15 outfits were show- behind this, he said, “Colours spice an event. cased during the event which was attended I love colours in the sense that at every event by ambassadors from 10 countries, members you come with your colours you are going of African Women’s Diplomatic Group, and to be outstanding. I love colours because it local community leaders. gives life to fashion.” Four different designs were displayed Giving advice to an aspiring designers, at the show including , agbada (three- Romeo said, “Everything is possible. If you piece for men worn by wealthy people -- a have a passion for fashion, you will go far.“ classical outfit for big occasions), and dinner He explained that there is a difference be- dress among others. tween career and passion. The founder of RomeoPaul Designs, According to Romeo, career paths that Ekene Romeo said he was happy to take part people choose is what their parents select for in an event focusing on environment conser- them and not what they have a passion for. vation. “Passion is something you cannot live with- The garden incorporates a variety of sap- to Qatar, Anika Moosa, who is president of out. I wish to tell the aspiring designers that lings representing several African countries the African Women’s Diplomatic Group, if you have no passion, there is no need to go including , Djibouti, South Africa and wore a that was designed by Romeo. for it. But if you have a passion, you can make . “Typically, it takes me two days to design Ekene Romeo, founder of RomeoPaul Designs a statement in the fashion world.” “The abaya is unique and special because a kimono to get a very good finished work. Meanwhile, Anika Moosa said, “The sig- it’s a combination of 100 percent cotton Afri- We do tailor-to-fit and we don’t do mass pro- Besides the recent event in Qatar, Romeo nificance of our project is that the Africa na- can fabric -- the ankara. We used it to make duction. We take time to do our outfits.” has displayed his creations at other events tions in collaboration with Qur’anic Botanic a statement that the African ankara can be Romeo explained that they do custom- and in other countries. Garden will be planting trees to establish used to design any outfit. We are trying to ised outfits of limited editions. “For every de- He represented Africa in the first Fashion an African tree garden in Qatar. In the near promote the African fabric, culture and our sign of our outfits, we do a maximum of three Rush at the Virginia Commonwealth Univer- future, we hope to see all 54 of our African wears in Qatar,” noted Romeo. piece for it and our condition is, we don’t sell sity in Qatar in 2011. He has participated in states represented in the garden, so that it At the event, the spouse of the South them in one country. It’s a unique design and fashion shows in Amsterdam, Nigeria, Ghana will represent a garden of friendship between African Ambassador for people who love class and style.” and Seychelles. He is also the founder de- Africa and Qatar.”