Amai - [ Pronounced: Ar-Mar-Yee ] Language: Shona. Noun. Definition: Mother
Zvikomborero - [ Pronounced: Zwi-Corm-Bor-Rare-Ro] Language: Shona. Noun. Definition: Blessing - A divine favor or gift.

When I was seven years old my mother told me to never lose faith because one day we would be together.
"Ko Makafa?" (what if you die) I asked. "Tinosangana kudenga" (we will meet in heaven) she answered.

As far as I can remember Amai has been the reason I get up with every rising sun,
the reason I smile and also the only reason I cry. When I was two years old Amai fell seriously ill
with chronic asthma, with little to no medical care it was life threatening. By the time I was four
my father had divorced Amai and a few years later at 6 years old I found myself alone in a boarding school.
Amai also found herself alone except she was very sick, had no electricity, no running water and
her life now depended on a bottle of pills.

She once told me that she always feared one day she would die because sometimes
the attacks would come when she was asleep. She would wake up, place the pills in her mouth,
too weak to reach for the glass of water, she would lay there motionless, pills stuck in her throat,
fighting for her life and waiting to die while staring at the cup of water right next to her - ironic isn't it.
It was because of this fear that she once walked me up a mountainside and
she showed me where I would find her buried if she happened to die.
It was a little hill that already had a grave made of a pile of rocks on it, it was her father's grave.

It was then as a little boy, during the few times I was allowed to visit my mother, that I witnessed
the pain of her life and so I promised myself that I would dedicate my entire life to her.
Despite her misfortunes and my dark lonely childhood she instilled in me Hope, Faith and Love, therefore life.
Thanks to my father I was blessed enough to escape the poverty, hunger and struggles of
most of the people of Zimbabwe. By eighteen I was studying at Montserrat College of Art,
Beverly, Ma - USA, pursuing my dream of being an artist.

Since I left home for boarding school at six years old I have seen my mother no more than
twenty five times, I am now thirty one. Today Amai still lives in Zimbabwe and still depends on pills to
breathe. Now I have created the "Zvikomborero Fashion Collection" which like her
will spread Hope, Faith & Love and will also help her and many others become healthy.

When I was born my name was changed to Blessing which means "Zvikomborero" in Shona.
Growing up I wanted to change my name to avoid the cruel insults, now I look back and laugh when I think of the day
I asked to change my name to Calvin, I wanted to be normal. Today I realize that my name means something,
it's special, it's why I am on this earth, I am here to be a Blessing. Every "Zvikomborero" design is created to inspire,
created to be lived not worn, created to help heal the world with the power of Hope, Faith and Love.

Remember Hope, Faith & Love
can bring a smile, mend a broken heart or even save a child's life,
it saved mine.

Many thanks to my family, extended family and friends for believing in me.
Thanks for your support!

"Bless"



Copyright Bless Media Group 2007