Borrowdale Park Racecourse became a stage for style and sound on Saturday, as the ZimBho Purple Bloom and Pink Ribbons race day drew fashion designers, musicians and guests clad in bold shades of purple and pink.
Held on October 24, the event paired six horse races with runway presentations and live performances, shaping a programme that stretched from afternoon into evening. It showcased Zimbabwean creativity while raising awareness about cancer.
The guests embraced the dress code with enthusiasm, turning the racecourse into a colourful display of floral dresses, elegant pant suits, statement hats and pink ribbons.
The coordinated looks gave the event the atmosphere of a fashionable race-day social event, with women particularly standing out in carefully styled outfits and elaborate headwear.
The fashion showcase featured The African Diplomat designer ensemble, Brands for Less, Zuva and the singer Feli Nandi, who presented her own designs before taking to the stage for her musical performance. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi showed off her dance moves together with one of the cancer survivors as DJ Fafi played one of the popular songs on the decks.
The African Diplomat collection brought an elegant aesthetic to the runway, complementing the event’s blend of style, culture and diplomatic engagement for men and women.
The showcases were interspersed with the racing programme, allowing audiences to move between the sporting action and fashion presentations throughout the afternoon.
The event’s entertainment line-up featured Shami Tuku, Jah Prayzah, Victor Kunonga and Feli Nandi, whose performances extended the festivity into the evening.
Shami Tuku opened the live music show before Jah Prayzah took over, delivering one of the afternoon’s major musical attractions.
Victor Kunonga also performed as part of the line-up, with his set coming last among the featured performers, while Feli Nandi’s performance added the main highlight, with her energetic band they raised the party vibe to the highest level.
The combination of runway presentations and live music helped create an experience that appealed to audiences beyond traditional horse-racing enthusiasts.
Tariro Chaniwa and her team from Magitare Africa handled the entertainment side of the event, helping coordinate the performances and maintain the flow between the different activities.
The programme was staged under the Purple Bloom and Pink Ribbons theme, which linked the jacaranda season and race-day fashion to breast cancer awareness.
Guests’ pink ribbons and purple-and-pink outfits reinforced the campaign’s message, while the Cancerserve Pink Ribbons Cup brought the health-awareness component onto the racecourse.
The event also featured local cuisine, adding a gastronomic dimension to the gathering and supporting the broader tourism objective of combining sport, culture, food and entertainment in one destination experience.
The fashion and entertainment part of the event demonstrated the potential of combining creative industries with sporting events to attract different audiences and provide a platform for local designers and performers. Together the racecourse, runway and concert stage, Purple Bloom and Pink Ribbons offered a distinctive lifestyle experience while ensuring that cancer awareness remained part of the day’s wider message.
