Mr Rocca’s Measure: How Craig Chimtengo Is Tailoring a New Standard for African Luxury.

In a world where image often arrives before words, few have mastered the language of refined style like Craig Chimtengo. The Zimbabwean designer and founder of Mr Rocca London has become a defining force in modern menswear, marrying African authenticity with European precision from his base in London. In recent years, he has taken that vision home, expanding into Zimbabwe with the flourish of a couturier and the intent of a cultural strategist.

Origins of a Vision

Chimtengo’s journey began in Zimbabwe, nurtured by a fascination with structure, form, and the understated confidence of a sharp silhouette. Relocating to London sharpened his eye and standards; it also exposed a gap he recognized from back home: premium, well-crafted suits that reflect African ambition and global polish. “I realised early that how a man dresses shapes how he is received,” he reflects - an insight that became the seed for a brand built on discipline, fit, and message as much as fabric.

Building Mr Rocca London

Founded with a clear purpose to position African craftsmanship at the pinnacle of global luxury. Mr Rocca London operates as a bespoke house for “aspirational individuals,” from professionals to public figures across Africa, Europe, and the diaspora. Chimtengo frames his label as proof that African creativity need not imitate to compete; it can innovate on its own terms. That ethos came into sharper public view in April 2024, when Mr Rocca London staged a high-profile launch in Zimbabwe, an entrance covered by GQ South Africa that signaled both commercial intent and cultural statement.

From Setback to Signature

Chimtengo does not airbrush the grind. In a candid appearance on The Invincible Minds Podcast with Collins Nyatanga, he recounts difficult years in London, periods of precarious work and immigration challenges before the brand’s breakthrough. The adversity, he says, clarified purpose: to build something “timeless” through precision and passion.

The Work Behind the Work

“Fit is king.” Everything in Mr Rocca’s atelier bows to that principle. Each client is mapped through 26-plus measurements posture, shoulder line, balance, and drape so the suit belongs to the wearer, not the rack. It’s a precision-first philosophy that closes the gap ready-to-wear still ignores, serving big, tall, short, and slim with the same exacting standard. The result is a suit that travels across boardrooms, ceremonies, and stages without losing its line. As Mr Rocca London’s presence grows from London showrooms to Zimbabwe launches the brand’s message strengthens: African craftsmanship is not a niche, it’s a benchmark.

A Quiet, Confident Mission

At the core of Craig's work is representation. He is explicit that the brand’s purpose is to “elevate the perception of African excellence,” and that every garment carries “a message of pride and purpose.” The stance aligns with broader efforts to widen who gets to define “luxury” in London and beyond, an industry conversation that even as it celebrates progress, continues to interrogate access and representation. Mr Rocca answers with product and practice.

About Craig

• Full Name: Craig Chimtengo

• Origin: Zimbabwe

• Career Highlights: Moved to UK, Founded Mr Rocca London, dressed Trevor Ncube, Featured in GQ South Africa, Opened branch in Zimbabwe

• Podcast: Building a luxury Tailoring Brand - Watch Here

• Follow Craig on IG: @mr_rocca

• Discover: https://mrrocca.co.uk/