02 Jun 2014

The northern region will send 11 models to compete against those from the southern region at the national finals for fashion design and models in the Presidential competitions slated for the President’s holidays.

The 11 were selected at the northern region fashion design finals at Adansonia Hotel in Francistown on Friday night, May 30.

The chief adjudicator for Fashion Design Association, Seneo Moji explained that they were supposed to select only 10 model finalists, but instead they settled for 11 because of the quality they got from the contestants.

Moji said the finalists are going to compete for the top three positions at the finals to be held in Gaborone in July.

She added that the models will also be accompanied by seven dressmakers together with seven designers from the region for the clothes they modelled in.

Among the seven dressmakers, was an elderly woman, Julia Kwele from Kasane whom Moji said started in 1976 and is still holding on to dressmaking.

She said Kwele has grown in her designs over the years despite that she has never been to any dressmaking school.

This, she said should be an encouragement to other designers and inspiring designers to work hard in order to remain relevant in the business.

She also appreciated the work of sports wear designer from Serowe, Pauline Tshambane, who she said decided not to follow the beaten path and urged her to continue doing such to inspire other designers.

Meanwhile, Botswana Confederation of Commerce and Industry Manpower (BOCCIM) representative, Lorna Pearmin said the event signifies the capacity that Batswana have in fashion industry.

She said the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture continues to give prominence to the development and promotions of the arts with its various programmes, citing among them fashion show competitions, arts and crafts exhibitions.

Pearmin further highlighted that some individuals and organisations have already benefitted through the culture grants and prize money.

She said this is an indication that the government is determined to see the fashion industry grow as a form of diversifying the economy.

Pearmin challenged the private sector and other stakeholders to consider investing in the arts.

The objectives of the show was to promote and market local designers together with models, while at the same time, educating the public on the creative industry and to give the artists an opportunity to showcase their products. Ends