13 Jul 2014

Due to the abundance of domesticated animals and wildlife, Batswana in the past used animal skins to make clothes. 

However, this is history as a lot has changed over the years. The advent of the use of fabrics for clothing has brought about a complete new twist to the way Batswana dress today.  And there is what people call fashion; an aspect that the nation without doubt upholds with respects. 

It is dynamic just like culture and it keeps on changing and due to modernisation, Batswana have adopted the western apparel and this has modified and inspired change in the design of clothing in Botswana. 

Two years ago, Batswana adopted the concept of colour blocking, whereby they wore clashing colours together. Then the use of leopard print soon took over.

However, tailors have now introduced a South African fabric called Nwenda, a colourful traditional cloth, worn by the Venda people in North and South of Limpopo. 

This material carries their cultural connotations and they wear it for certain special events. 

According to one dressmaker, Tshanonoka Khamandise, when a girl is seen in a Nwenda, it is a sign that she is deflowered. 

She notes however that there are meanings attached to the embroidery done on the Nwenda. 

For instance, a single line of embroidery is an indication that one is not yet engaged.

For Batswana, this particular fabric is simply fashionable, hence their love for it and presently, the streets of Francistown are littered with items of clothing made from it, which local vendors and tailors refer to as Makoti. 

Khamandise says the clothes made from Nwenda sell like fat cakes in Francistown and the high demand has even led her to bring her sewing machine to her makeshift trading place in case there are orders that need to be made and collected within hours.

According to Mary Mabona, one of the vendors in front of Ntshe House, she came across the material at one of the weddings in South Africa during a vacation. 

Ms Mabona is one of those who receive high orders, especially for wedding attires and she once made costumes for a certain church group. 

Another lady, Annah Manyaro also sells high waist Nwenda skirts at the Francistown Bus Rank and she said business is by far doing remarkably well. ENDS