Every fashion conscious Zimbabwean has by now noticed and realized that it is almost impossible to walk 10-20 meters in the Harare Central Business District (CBD) without seeing a Gucci flag (red and green).
Local boutique owners and street dealers have admitted that this last year, trinity (3 Gucci stripes) was more of a hypnosis that convinced customers into buying anything with the flag.
However out of poor business strategies, misjudgment and maybe ‘January disease’, several street fashion boutiques in the CBD of Harare and other towns are now stuck with overstocked Gucci apparel.
“This is what was selling during the holidays and we probably misjudged and acquired to much Gucci expecting the stock to be finished before opening of schools.” said Beatrice a shop attendant at a local boutique in Harare.
While other personnel in the fashion business believe it is characteristic of January considering issues of school fees and uniforms competing for left overs from the Christmas spending.
“Generally sales are low at this time of the year not because people have fallen out of love with their Gucci but its a phase and this is January what can we expect,” said Mai Kuku, an attendant at another boutique in Harare.
In interviews conducted by 263Chat with youthful fashion conscious Hararians, signs were evident that there now exists a sour relationship with the brand (Gucci) just like the South African ‘Cash Time’ label which dominated the streets in 2015 and 2016.
“Gucci yafumuka (Gucci is now found everywhere, It has lost the dignity)” said Munashe Chaka
“Just like Cash Time that is where Gucci has gone, personally i would not want my boyfriend to come and see me wearing Gucci,” said Mellisa Marufu from Avondale.
A brief survey by 263Chat has also revealed that the Gucci brand has been hit by imitations with up to 80% of clothes sold in local boutiques in Harare thriving on fake replicas.
