Small things stand out at this fabric shop in Mwenge, Dar es Salaam, for one it’s clean. Neat rows of corporate fabric are next to lean torso mannequins donning striking suits, shirts and jackets. The decor is elegant but minimal allowing the merchandise to stand out.

Flipping the suit jacket you spot clean lining, no crooked lines or exposed seams, the outfit is draping the mannequin as a bespoke suit.

These clothes are all made in Tanzania, so of course appointments are made and a sit down follows with the persons behind this brand called Rare Editions.

Pristine surroundings

On the day of the interview we meet at the second outlet of Rare Editions in Kijitonyama, I was met with the same pristine clean surroundings as their Mwenge outlet with torso mannequins, little shelves with cufflinks ties and the like. Later I learnt where the tailors were in an adjacent room.

She is petite in a peplum corporate dress and sat behind an austere mahogany desk inviting me to sit across from her.

I didn’t shake her hand (corona etiquette) but greeted her warmly. Her smile sets me at ease and soon, I am immersed in her world.

Rare Editions is a partnership between Catherine Mlowe 33, and her husband Michael Mugabe 40. She is a doctor and founder of Rare Editions.

Rare Editions was born in 2016 but since 2012 it was Catherine’s own business called K8 designs.

“Initially it was tough as I had just finished medical school. I rented a frame close to home in Tabata, bit by bit I would pay the rent, but I loved it at times I would finish at midnight”.

Catherine’s journey with fashion was cemented in secondary school at Kifungilo Girls, when she took up sewing. Throughout college she would meddle in it until she met tailor Christopher Zacharia and started making whole garments for ladies and gents.

When she met her husband she recalls being unsure and almost quitting the fashion business. She was neck deep in her internship as a doctor and now coupled with managing her business with three tailors.

“I wanted to quit, I thought why am I stressing after all I am going to be a doctor. But then when I started dating Mike I would tell him my frustrations, soon I called him my "shock absorber".

Tuxedo challenge

Things turned rosy for K8 designs when Michael took a chance on his fiancés business and ordered his wedding tuxedo from her establishment.

The gist was if the tux wasn’t good they would decide to buy one, but K8 designs passed the test and the tux Michael wore including those of his groomsmen were all made by his wife’s venture.

“I realised it’s even better if I cater to the male clientele” Catherine answers as to how Rare Editions came to be and why she dropped making casual wear for ladies.

That her own wedding had male outfits from her own shop, encouraged her to do more research. She saw a gap in the market for men’s bespoke suits and with Michael’s investment the business took off.

Rare Editions has provided bespoke suits for many couples as well corporate wear for companies like Oryx, CRDB Bank and Gibotel.

They pool quality fabrics which they source from overseas giving a one-year warranty for their suits.

One challenge they face is with marketing as the ban of second hand clothes is not effective. This means their outfits face steep competition. They also requested support from the government of this administration whose call for ‘Tanzania of Industries’ could benefit to look at enabling more processing factories for the cloth fibres the country exports like cotton.

This will cut production costs for factories like their own that have to import quality fabrics that are expensive.