Our #MCM is Ishmael Tsakatsa, the founder and head designer for the brand Zargue’sia. Born in 1992, Ishmael grew up with a love for unique fashion and style.
He first appeared on the fashion scene at the Zimbabwe Fashion Week 2012 in a Young Designers competition. He then launched his brand Zargue’sia in 2013 at Zimbabwe Fashion Week where he was nominated for the Emerging Designer of the Year.
He was awarded the Zimbabwean Designer of the Year title at the Zimbabwe Fashion Awards night in September 2014. Ishmael’s designs are mainly inspired by the word of God from the Bible and the essence that lies behind his brand is the magnificence and radiance of God’s beauty.
Not originally trained in fashion design, Tsakatsa is a holder of a Physiotherapy degree from the University of Zimbabwe. “I was inspired by the love of a royal aesthetic with elegant drama and opulence,” he muses. “It started as a hobby way back then in my school days until I noticed that with my creative ability l had something fresh to offer to the world. I then launched my brand and since then I have never looked back.”
Zarguesia became the first Zimbabwean designer to take part at the prestigious Paris Designer show in 2021 which has seen prominent designers of such brands as Louis Vutton, Celine, Saint Laurent, Channel, Gucci and Dolce and Gabbana taking part. The event saw Zarguesia showcasing some of the local designs at different venues in Paris.
Zarguesia has worked with socialites, business moguls, models and celebrities who included Zodwa Mkandla, Zari Hassan, Pokello Nare, Mbo Mahocs, MisRed, Samantha Tshuma, Lillian Madyara, Tarry Phineas, Jeffrey Ziegler, Everton Mlalazi, Craig Zoowie, Tehn Diamond and Mikey Chindiya.
Awards & Accolades
2022 Africa Fashion Reception, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2022 Globalspin Award, Mumbai India
2022 Style Icon Zimbabwe Awards, Designer of the Year
2021 Paris Fashion Week
2020 Mzuzu Fashion Week, Malawi
2020 Fashion without Borders Africa, Botswana
2019 Soweto Fashion Week, South Africa
2017 Zimbabwe Models Awards, Best Designer award
2017 Mozambique Fashion Week
2017 Swahili Fashion Week, Tanzania
2016 Style Oracle Fashion Awards, Best couture designer nominee
2016 Swahili Fashion Week
2015 Future Africa Leaders Award in Lagos Nigeria at the Loveworld Convocation Arena
2015 Best Entrepreneur Award at the University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor’s Awards
2015 Loveworld Festival of Music and Arts Exhibition in South Africa
2014 Zimbabwean Designer of the Year Award at Zimbabwe Fashion Week
2014 Harare International Festival of the Arts Man Fashion Show
2013 Nominee for the Emerging Designer of the Year Award at Zimbabwe Fashion Week
2013 Castle Tankard Fashion Show Award
2013 Cultural and Social fair Exhibition Award
2012 Zimbabwe Fashion Week Young Designers Competition
2012 Midlands Show Society Exhibition Award
2012 Midlands Show Society Home Industry Award in Tailoring and Fashion Design
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