ZedHair is a proudly Zambian brand. We’re always happy to collaborate with other local companies who have similar values to ourselves as it allows us to highlight the fact that there is currently a fantastic eco system of brilliant emerging brands within the country. ZedHair started out as a blog but we’re now a business and it’s such a great time to be embarking on this transition. There is an awesome sense of camaraderie between young entrepreneurs who realise that we can achieve so much more if we work together, taking advantage of each others strengths.

We love African fashion and when Kamanga Wear, a Zambian ready to wear fashion house, approached us about the possibility of running some sort of social media promotion we jumped at the opportunity. MaFashio are a fashion blog that we love and it was a no brainer to have them get involved with styling and make up. Finally, we asked Fortress, an award winning media company, to sort out the photography and the team was formed.

The first stage of the competition was the top five. They got to choose two items each from Kamanga Wear to wear for the shoot.

Donna of Kamanga Wear looking through the ladies’ outfits

Each of the top 5 had mini makeovers which included make up and hair. The contestants all had natural hair.

Sampa worked with ZedHair to style everyone’s hair.

Finger coils on a TWA

Updo on mid length locs

Bantu knots on a TWA

We wanted the contestants to show off their personalities and they worked with MaFashio to get the styling just right.

Yuma Besta Chisanga. Top by Kamanga Wear. Skirt and accessories contestants own.

Lerato Mubu. Shorts by Kamanga Wear. Top and accessories contestants own.

Mutale Salifyanji Chileshe. Dress by Kamanga Wear

Christabel Miti. Dress by Kamanga Wear

Asimbuyu Adaugo Mwangala. Dress by Kamanga Wear

The final stage involved a vote by readers and Asimbuyu Adaugo Mwanagala emerged victorious. Her prize was an outfit from Kamanga Wear, a hamper of ZedHair products and a spread in a leading magazine. She came back to the studio for a second photo shoot and her pictures will be published in the magazine soon.

The competition has already been featured by TV Guide Magazine, a weekly publication by The Daily Mail of Zambia. We had so much fun working together during the competition that we might just run another #FashionYapaZed in future.

And we’re sure you’ll agree that Fortress Media Zambia did a stellar job on the photography.

Mwanabibi (ZedHair) , Asimbuyu (Winner) and Sekayi (MaFashio)