Zimbabwean fashion label SOLEIL has released Memories in Harare, a fashion film directed by TamuTheCreator and starring rising R&B artist Kyla Blac, marking the official debut of its Spring Summer 2027 ready to wear collection in a project that merges film, fashion and lived experience into a single narrative.
Written and creatively directed by founder Ropafadzo Mapira, the film moves through Harare not as spectacle but as memory. It captures the city in fragments, quiet streets, shifting moods, intimate moments, offering a perspective shaped by those who live within it rather than observe from a distance.
At its centre is an exploration of duality. Through Kyla Blac’s performance, the story reflects the layered realities of urban life, where creative ambition exists alongside routine, where internal worlds unfold beneath visible identities. The film does not attempt to resolve these tensions. Instead, it holds them, presenting Harare as both space and feeling.
“I’ve been trying to make a SOLEIL film for two years now. It just never felt right… and then when I finally found the right cast, the right director, the right production, everything clicked,” Mapira said. “I needed it to feel like home, not in a loud way, but in that quiet, familiar way you carry with you without even realizing.”
The film serves as the emotional entry point into the collection itself. Drawing from the textures of Harare, from the movement of the CBD to the stillness of personal reflection, the garments balance softness with structure. There is an intentional interplay between chaos and calm, mirroring the rhythms of the city that inspired them.
“Memories fade. But clothes don’t,” Mapira said. “They archive us. They hold the feeling, the moment, the version of you that existed in that time.”
Rather than romanticising Harare, the project leans into its reality. It captures the in between, the transitions, the emotional undercurrents that define everyday life. In doing so, it creates a work that feels rooted in place while remaining universally resonant.
The project also highlights a collaborative shift within Zimbabwe’s creative scene. Mapira emphasised the importance of collective work in building globally competitive output.
“There’s so much potential here, real, undeniable talent,” she said. “But we need to let go of doing everything alone. When we come together properly, we make better work. Work that can actually travel.”
Kyla Blac anchors the film with a performance that extends her musical identity into visual storytelling. Known for her introspective sound, she brings a similar emotional depth to the screen, bridging disciplines in a way that aligns with SOLEIL’s broader creative direction.
“Honestly, it felt really natural. I’m used to expressing myself through music and content, so stepping into film felt like an extension of that. It challenged me in a different way though. more intentional, more storytelling, and I loved that,” she said.
Her involvement signals a wider creative trajectory.
“Absolutely, I think as a creative it’s limiting to define yourself by just one medium. I’m in a space where I want to explore everything, film, music, beauty, storytelling… all of it. I don’t like being boxed in creatively, so expect more experimenting for sure.”
On her relationship with the brand, she added:
“Working with Soleil has been such good alignment. It doesn’t feel forced and it’s more of a creative relationship than a transactional one. Ropa understands me, not just my aesthetic, but how I think and create. There’s a level of trust there that allows me to experiment and push boundaries, and that’s something I value a lot in any long term partnership.”
With Memories in Harare, SOLEIL positions itself beyond conventional fashion presentation. The project is not just a collection launch but a statement on storytelling, identity and the evolving language of African fashion.
As Zimbabwe’s creative industries continue to expand their global reach, projects like this suggest a shift toward multidisciplinary expression, where film, music and design converge to tell more layered, more personal stories.
