FASHION is universal, transcending the language barrier and bringing people from all walks of life together for one common purpose – expressing themselves through clothing. Burundian woman Izidonie Nahimana spoke to Ashlee Falvo about her career as a dressmaker and what influences the clothing choice of people in Burundi. Picture: Carmel Zaccone
How long have you been in Australia?
I arrived in Australia with my four children from Burundi, East Africa in 2014.
How long were you a dressmaker in Burundi?
I spent 20 years as a dressmaker in my country. For 10 of those years, I had my own shop where I made clothing.
Were there certain types of garments you specialised in?
I made everything from ladies’ wedding dresses to children’s school uniforms, blouses, skirts, dresses, men’s clothing … I made it all.
How does culture and religion influence fashion in Burundi?
Those things influence what we wear greatly. We tend to wear a lot of bright colours and vibrant prints because they look nicer with our skin tone.
Your religion and the expectations of your church will influence what you wear quite a bit.
Some churches don’t mind if ladies wear fitted clothing, or clothing above the knee, and some frown upon it.
But the most common thing is that a lot of the clothing will be bright in colour and stand out.
Are there any colours you tend to stay away from?
It’s rare that you will see a Burundian in black or dark purple. Those are the colours we bury our loved ones in, they are associated with death so we don’t wear them much.
Is it hard to source the fabric and prints you like in Mildura?
It’s really hard. I’ve searched everywhere in Mildura, but I buy most of my fabric now online.
What prints are popular for the clothing you make?
Burundian ladies wear a lot of tropical floral prints.
If I’m making a dress, it’s likely to have a larger flowered pattern on it, but if it’s a skirt and blouse, smaller prints look nicer. Some ladies like to wear animal print, like leopard spots, for something different.
