Cynthia Schimming’s Influence Will Extend Beyond Fashion

Schimming (69) died on 9 July in a Windhoek hospital.

In 1998 Schimming was awarded a laureate by Unesco for her design under the theme “;A United World for Future Generations: Beyond Time, Beyond Oceans”;, and in 2019, she was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the Katutura Fashion Week.

In the same year, she was a guest researcher at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin, studying the histories, materials and techniques of the Namibian Collection.

As part of this process, she created an artwork for the Humboldt Forum, which not only tackled colonial violence and genocide, but also understood the collection as an archive of Namibian arts and crafts, interwoven historical experiences with a self-confident repositioning in the postcolonial present.

After her research and work at the Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin, she went home for a while and then returned to Germany, this time to Hamburg, where she was the costume designer for “;Hereroland”; a play directed by the late David Ndjavera and Gernot Grünewald, based on the Herero genocide.

Born at Otjiwarongo, Schimming was the second eldest of five children – two boys and three girls.

She attended M. H. Greeff Primary School and Ella du Plessis Secondary School in Windhoek, and Dr Lemmer High

School at Rehoboth.

She had three sons, two of whom have since passed away.

Her eldest son, Anthony Bessinger says his mother had great passion for the fashion and modelling industries.

In 1983, she resigned from her fulltime job as a data clerk to pursue a career in the designing industry, he says.

“When my mother returned back to Namibia, she opened a small boutique named Limited Edition. Around that time, my mother also started a modelling agency. Growing up around her, I was influenced by music, because my mother liked music a lot. She was also part of a band,” Bessinger says.

He will remember his mother for always being willing to help and motivate others to pursue their passions.

“In the family, she was the peacemaker. My mother would always urge me and others to follow our dreams and pursue our careers. She was a free spirit and loved to travel and see the world, so whatever opportunity she got to travel, she did. She taught others about fashion. She has helped many people to fulfil their dreams. She has touched a lot of people,” Bessinger says.

Schimming”;s sister Victoria Schimming says they were very close while growing up and did a lot of things together.

“We laughed a lot and hardly argued. When Cynthia was small, she loved to make clothes for her dolls, reading and modelling,” she says.

Victoria says her sister had a heart of gold and was always willing to help others.

She also helped Victoria a lot, paying for both her and her grandson”;s school fees.

“Cynthia sent me to school. She asked me what I wanted to do. When I studied, I was already in my 40s. She believed in me and I went to study pottery, which is something that I am very passionate about,” Victoria says.

She always wanted to see others happy and loved children, says Victoria.

“When she saw a hungry child on the street, she would give them food. She would constantly give food to others. She would take food from her house and give to those who did not have.

“When our father passed away in the late 90s, she took my son in as her own. She also sent him to Cape Town for his studies,” Victoria says.

Multi-talented visual and musical artist Hishishi Papa says alongside Schimming, they visited expos in various countries, like China, Germany and Portugal, where Schimming showcased her designs.

They also worked together at the College of the Arts, where Schimming was the fashion design lecturer and he taught film-making, he says.

“She worked very hard when it came to her art. She was a great adviser and helper. I do believe that we have not lost her. We still have her in our arts and craft. I will miss her honest opinions. She was a person who would accept people just the way they were. When she was home she enjoyed cooking and baking,” Hishishi Papa says.

Schimming was also a collector of artwork, and owned pieces by talents such as Asser Karita, John Muafangejo, Joe Madisia and himself, he says.

Singer, songwriter and actress Lize Ehlers says Schimming was a good friend for the past 10 years and will always be remembered for her talent.

“She was and will always be one of the country”;s top fashion designers. She was a kind, loving and caring person. I met her years ago at the College of the Arts, where she was a lecturer.

“In 2013, she played the role of my mother in the musical “;Mama Mia”;, which was directed by Sandy Rudd.

“Since then, Cynthia was in my heart and we stayed close. I will never forget when I wore one of her white designs for the country”;s 25th independence celebrations. This was my favourite dress of all time.”

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