What adaptive fashion is all about

DW (English)

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.

Transcript

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.

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