Ramo Tshabalala and Naledi Maifala win CTM Mentorship Program as Fashion Without Borders wraps up showcase in grand style. Staff Writer GOSEGO MOTSUMI was there
Local fashion brands Glotto, La-Letsatsi Creations and South African designer FDB Human Store have won an internship with retail multinational, Mr Price.
This came to light over the weekend in an announcement made by the organisers of Fashion Without Borders (FWB) as they wrapped up what has so far been the biggest fashion showcase in Botswana.
The three designers were part of the fashion showcase that celebrated the Beauty of Diversity Through African Fashion that took place at the Grand Palm in Gaborone.
Big deal
“This is a big deal for me to possibly be able to collaborate with Mr Price, and to go and benchmark is exciting,” a visibly elated founder of Glotto, Mboko Basiami, said in an interview.
Bubbly and vibrant after participating in the New York Fashion Week before the FWB show in Gabs, she added: “I want Glotto to have a good retail position like Mr Price does. So I am very excited to transfer some skills, benchmark and add some creative spark to their creative direction.”
Nicole Gounden of Mr Price South Africa told Time Out that the two to three-week internship in Durban entails involving designers in the merchandise process and range-building down to their production process.
Fashion and CTM tiles
Tile retailer CTM has also embarked on a mission to collaborate with fashion designers to merge their creative vision with their products.
As one of the sponsors of the FWB showcase, the tile specialist announced that they will be taking fashion designers Naledi Maifala (Botswana) and Ramo Tshabalala (SA) on a mentorship program with the company.
Said CTM nationwide store manager, Lady Joyce Ntesetsang, at the fashion showcase: “We are turning 40 years of selling quality tiles this year.
“We came up with the idea of collaborating with designers in an initiative that began in South Africa and the feedback from our customers was positive. We now want to take part in Botswana to incorporate fashion into tiles.”
Intricate patterns
FWB showcase had over 15 local and international designers and 50 local models. Fashion enthusiasts were captivated by the vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and unique styles that embody the rich cultural heritage of Africa on the runway.
From avant-garde haute couture to ready-to-wear collections, FWB delivered an unforgettable experience, showcasing the diverse and untapped potential of Botswana’s fashion industry.
Said co-founder of FWB, Tebo Bakwena-Kabisoso: “We are celebrating the designers and showcasing what Botswana has. I hope people will support by buying because it’s nice to attend the fashion show but we need to remember that it’s not for entertainment but to support the designers to grow further.”
Fashion and Breast Cancer Walk
One of the highlights of the fashion show was the “Breast Cancer Walk” where prominent figures Mpho Sebina, Kagiso De Klerk, Samantha Mogwe, Oratile Kefitlhile, Luhle Boitshwarelo and Nature Inger took to the runway dressed in pink outfits to champion breast cancer advocacy.
The walk for a cause was in commemoration of breast cancer awareness, which falls in the month of October.