About Panashe Designs

Fashion has always been a part of clothing designer Chipo Mudzengi-Hwami’s life. As a young child she learned from her father, who owned a small leather clothing manufacturing company, and her mother, who was an expert seamstress, that it’s not just about clothes that look good, but clothes that are well-constructed and made to last. 

As an adult, she has taken this early training and turned it into an innovative, ready-to-wear fashion brand for stylish professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 45, who are edgy, confident and have a strong sense of fashion. They want quality African inspired clothing that is well-made, versatile and durable.

Naming her line Panashé, which means “in God’s Presence”, she has created pieces that stand on their own. Many are reversible, giving the client two garments in one. The designs incorporate texture, prints and color. She has received accolades for her work from the Los Angeles Trade Technical College. She received two Gold Thimble awards for her outstanding work in the Men's and Theme categories, having the latter presented to her by none other than fashion designer and musician Kanye West. It was these awards that propelled her to start the Panashé line. She credits her parents and teachers for demanding precision and excellence in her handiwork.

When her daughter was younger, Chipo was a single working mother, and her dream of fashion design was put on hold. Determined not to become a statistic, she continued to work hard and realized it was her mission to help other mothers in the same position. Her goal is to use proceeds from her clothing line to create a center where single moms can work, gain confidence, feel beautiful and become self-sufficient, all toward providing a better future for their children.

Chipo lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and daughter.