Masiyiwa is a 28-year-old businesswoman and the executive director of Batoka Hospitality limited, a purpose-driven hospitality company and the first black female-owned safari lodge group in Africa.<\/p>\n
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\nIn 2022, the entrepreneur was voted, alongside Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, as one of the 2022\u2019s best-dressed women by UK\u2019s Tatler magazine. The magazine described her style as \u201cAll-out glamour\u201d.<\/p>\n
She is an avid supporter of African couture and is a fierce promoter of fashion inspired by and produced in Africa.<\/p>\n
We spoke to Masiyiwa to find out more about her love for African fashion.<\/p>\n
What do you love most about African fashion?<\/p>\n
I love how some African designers have started incorporating their own traditional garments into modern-day clothing, as well as local artwork, textiles and sometimes, history. I love the fact that with most pieces there is knowledge attached to it and not just it being an outfit. I think for designers on the continent, this is necessary. As Africans, we haven\u2019t really written much about our own history and cultures. We have a lot of catching up to do in that area, so doing so across multiple industries, for me, is important.<\/p>\n
How do you promote African fashion to the world?<\/p>\n
I have the opportunity to attend many global events and speaking engagements. All of these usually have people of influence in attendance, so I always try to wear an African designer when I attend. Of course, this is not always possible. However, when I get an invite to something, my first instinct is to always identify which African designer I want to work with, timelines permitting!<\/p>\n
Who are your favourite African designers?<\/p>\n
These are African designers whose designs I love and enjoy wearing; Thebe Magugu (South Africa), Christie Brown (Ghana), Pepper Row (Nigeria), Lisa Folawiyo (Nigeria) and Moshions (Rwanda).<\/p>\n
How did you feel about it being rated as one of the 2022\u2019s best dressed Women by UK\u2019s Tatler magazine?<\/p>\n
I was obviously shocked and equally excited. I have never considered my style to be anything out of this world. I\u2019ve always known I dress well and appreciate beautiful clothing, and I guess this was validation. It actually was meaningful to me in terms of body image and self-love. Being selected to be on the list and not having the conventional style icon body style for me shows a shift in culture and perception that I also hoped for as a child.<\/p>\n
How would you describe your personal style?<\/p>\n
Well, at the moment, I am in a bit of a transitionary period with my style. My style really comes down to how I am feeling. I love something that is classic and elegant. In winter, it\u2019s usually about outerwear for me. In summer, I always feel a little more bright, so I love to wear statement pieces and bold colours. I am generally casual on a normal day \u2013 jeans, a t-shirt (that usually has a statement written on it), then I will add trendy sneakers or loafers, then, of course, for me it\u2019s the jacket or coat that brings it all together. If not that, then lounge wear \u2013 I love lounge wear, and I wear it out.<\/p>\n
Who are your style icons?<\/p>\n
Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Zendaya, and I find Lewis Hamilton\u2019s track style quite inspiring \u2013 I love to watch F1, but I probably look forward to his looks a little more than the race.<\/p>\n
Besides being an international style icon, Masiyiwa is a force to be reckoned with in the business world.<\/p>\n
In her role as co-founder and CEO of Batoka Hospitality limited, she has led the strategic repositioning of the company for investments in Zimbabwe and the expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. Masiyiwa aims to use tourism and hospitality to build sustainable livelihoods by improving the lives of the local people.<\/p>\n
She is working towards the development of the African tourism industry as a whole, changing the narrative around Africa. In addition to preserving and strengthening communities, she is also committed to preventing the extinction of wildlife and preserving their environment.<\/p>\n
Having spent most of her childhood in South Africa, Masiyiwa strives to empower the African dream of success through eco-tourism and hospitality, particularly through the Tesse Fund. By contributing 10% of revenue from guest stays to the fund, Batoka Hospitality employees can recommend projects that benefit their local communities.<\/p>\n
Learning is at the heart of Batoka Hospitality\u2019s eco-tourism work in Zimbabwe, which includes building schools and libraries, as well as providing training and skills development to Batoka staff and the surrounding community.<\/p>\n
Masiyiwa is also a mental health activist. She currently serves as an adviser for several Africa-based organisations that aim to de-stigmatise mental health among young people, particularly in rural areas.<\/p>\n
She graduated with a BSc in Computer Information Systems from Bryant University and a MSC in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship sciences from University College London. She is currently based between London and Johannesburg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
African entrepreneur Vimbai Masiyiwa is taking African fashion to the world one outfit at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":26212,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,36],"tags":[7,37,38],"class_list":{"0":"post-26215","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fashion","8":"category-lifestyle","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-fashion","11":"tag-lifestyle"},"yoast_head":"\n