Located in Harare‘s northern suburb of Chisipite, the invite-only event rolled out the red carpet for its special guests . After passing through tight security , guests were welcomed by beautiful model hosts and welcome drinks (for those not observing Ramadan of course) and were led into the garden area.
As The Sp_ce doors remained closed, the patio area gave a slight hint of what was behind the doors. The oriental / Turk
influences with a modern touch came off the unique decor pieces such as the classic Turk lantern and brightly coloured seating cushions adorned with detailed fabrics from Istanbul. While also fusing Zimbabwean elements such as the decorative woven baskets simply known as ruseros and wooden mask sculptures.
Guest mingled and awaited the grand reveal. The wooden doors finally opened to the alluring and eye-catching space. Welcomed by a beautifully placed lantern chandelier and reception area. The immediate fusion of modern and oriental themes were evident yet implemented in a minimalistic manner.
As your eye moves from the reception area, the already somewhat iconic The Sp_ce sign is positioned in the centre of the showroom. The racks of clothes and shoes are the perfect amount of items on showcase not overwhelming the customer. Designs by the legendary Colin Ratisai, edgy David Alford and of course trendy Shoko shoes are on offer. Colin’s pink collection of vibrant crop tops meet throws were definitely a highlight, the metallic and nude winter Shoko boots are a must. I did notice that most of the clothes were tailored for the slimmer girl something that I continuously battle with being a plus size.
The artistic space layout of the show room makes it a modern yet cultural experience. The Sp_ce is also home to the Shoko offices and work room as well as ZFI. Before entering the lounge and lifestyle room, I made a quick dash to the bathroom which deserves a blog mention. The bathroom a pleasant surprised made use of black and white textures with iconic fashion images. Then to my biggest surprise, BLACK tissue paper. I often say, you can tell the quality of an establishment by its bathroom. A detailed and sophisticated bathroom is always a sign of an establishment that cares about their clients and most of all offers a quality experience. After my love moment with the black tissue it was off to the second part of the tour.
Istanbul in Harare is as best as I can describe the lounge / lifestyle room! With vibrant and beautifully decorated
seating cushions making use of those unique Turk fabrics. The stunning seating booths allow for people to slip out of their work shoes into more comfortable white slippers to relax and take in classical and modern oriental music. With a fire place going, stylish fashion books on the centre table, lanterns, unique centre pieces one immediately escapes into a magical world…
For the shisha, tea and wine lovers this space allows for you to enjoy shisha/hookah in the perfect setting while sipping on a tea or wine of your choice both local and international. The relaxing ambiance is also ideal for you to enjoy a conversation with a friend or friends. I quite imagine this being a useful space to come brainstorm or relax during the day and at night a spot to unwind and entertain friends. Priscilla also notes that this venue will expand into the garden especially as summer approaches and will be home to pop up fashion shows throughout the year. So those still taking in the heartbreak for ZFW traditional 4 day showcase being postponed this is promising news.
The Sp_ce in itself is a fantastic concept and a unique experience. I look forward to seeing how this exclusive spot develops over the next few months. The brilliant styling and decor of the venue makes this on to The Mimi Musts list and a place or should I say space that I’ll definitely be visiting again. A modern fusion of lifestyle with hints of Istanbul and Zimbabwe magic. Thank you to the Sp_c e for a magical and memorable launch.
Launch Highlights