One On One With Lilian Patropa Miss Grand National Costume Designer 

Jina la Lilian Patropa linaweza kuwa geni masikioni mwa wengi lakini kwa wale ambao kidogo huwa mna tembelea fashion shows mbali mbali mtakua mnamjua, Lilian alimewahi kushinda Tuzo za swahili fashion week mwaka juzi kama mbunifu chipukizi bora lakini pia alisha iwakilisha Tanzania Katika African Film Festival 2016 kupitia shindano la FASDO.

Lilian amebuni vazi la National Costume la Miss Grand Tanzania, Batuli Mohammed. Kwa bahati nzuri limeingia katika 25 bora na kwa Kwa Africa ni Tanzania pekee ndiyo imeingia top 25 ya National costume best National costume from Africa, kutokana na hili tumeona tumtafute mbunifu wa vazi hili atueleze nini amepitia mpaka vazi kupatikana kama ambavyo tunajua Tanzania ni vigumu kujua National costume yetu ni ipi.

Afroswagga – Tunajua ni kazi ngumu kubuni vazi la Taifa hasa kwa hapa kwetu Tanzania, umebuni vazi hilo kwa Batuli nini kilikuwa inspiration yako?

Lilian – The inspiration behind the costume was the people of Arusha region, to be more specific the Masai people. What we did was, we wanted it to be more contemporary just because the traditional Masai attire has already been worn so many times. That is why you can trace use of traditional accessories (the vibuyus and so on) and few hints of modernization (the fur). Just to make it more fun!

Afroswagga –  Ugumu Gani Umepitia?

Lilian – The challenging part was the time. Miss grand Tanzania team reached out to us soon after they crowned Batuli. We had a short time span to make the costume and finalize the fittings. I must add on, this is the same challenge for most beauty pageants here in Tanzania. Majority of things are done last minute, even if the designer has a better idea, time would be working against them hence we end up settling for less or worse creating something of poor standards. But thank goodness the concept for Miss Grand national costume came to life just as we’d hoped it would be.

Afroswagga –  Umejisikiaje batuli kuingia katika 25 bora ya Miss Grand National Costumes?

Lilian – When I saw she was in the top 25 for national costume, I got so excited. You put your heart in the costume but you never really know if people would love it. So happy we got the recognition.

Afroswagga – tunakupa nafasi ya kuuza bidhaa zako waambie wa Tanzania wanaweza kuzipata wapi na kila kitu ungependa wakijue kuhusu bidhaa yako.

Lilian – Hahaha this is a good one. Well, fashion is not just a career for me, its also my passion. I’m pretty much excited for this end of the year because of the fashion week. Knowing that this year’s event is so big (10 years anniversary) Im working extra hard to creating a mind blowing collection… something never seen anywhere in this world  Follow our business page (@bonuzi) to buy our clothes and follow my personal page (@lilianpatropa) for all the craziness behind the scenes.