15 Jul 2015

It was a sight to behold when fashion designers, dressmakers, models and fashion enthusiasts came together at the 8th annual fashion show exhibition held under the President’s Day celebrations in Gaborone on Monday, July 13.

It was a glitz and glamour event that saw Batswana designers showcasing their artistic masterpieces of different materials, inspirational ideas and colours and the set up was also world class.

The deputy director of Department of Botswana National Museum and Monuments, Steve Mogotsi said the purpose of the event was to showcase diversity and creativity through fashion hence they created a platform to give Batswana fashion designers space to showcase their talent and express their inner thoughts.

Mogotsi said as a result of these competitions, designers and models have realised their career paths, improved their livelihoods and made a contribution to the status of Botswana’s cultural heritage and economy.

“To be a great artist, or great in any field, it takes massive talent, determination and commitment,” he said, adding that the 2015 competitions started in May with regional competitions in Kasane, Serowe, Gaborone, Selibe-Phikwe, Ghanzi, Tsabong, Hukuntsi, Molepolole, Kanye, Mochudi, Francistown and Maun to select the best.

He further said since the inception of the President’s Day Competitions in 2008, the programme has made notable progress in achieving its objectives.

“The participation levels have increased tremendously from 2889 in 2014 to 7850 in 2015,” said Mogotsi, indicating that artists have also shown growth as some of Batswana artists are participating at the international arena and winning competitions.

This includes Nature Inger, who won Miss World Super Model in 2014, Black Trash Fashion House also won an International Designer of the Year Award and they would be appreciated as one of the best African Fashion Designers at the Fashion Beyond Boundaries, Toronto Fashion Week, Canada, in August 2015.

“There are also two young Batswana models and fashion designer, Lingani Shadrack, Kesolofetse Senne and Boitumelo Seboko who have participated at the Toronto Fashion Week in 2014 and were nominated to participate at the Dubai 2015 Fashion Week,” he said.

Mogotsi added that a Motswana model, Thabang Molotsi is working in South Africa and also acts in 7 De Laan - a South African Soapie.

A sizzling performance by Lizibo aka Kalanga cool kick started the event and he dazzled the stage with his melodic voice and even made one lady from the crowd cry when he got her on stage and serenaded her with his voice.

The fashion show exhibition was divided into three categories, namely the Fashion Design, Dressmaking and Model.

In model category, the fierce and feisty Batswana young men and women models walked the ramp showcasing their poses and catwalk abilities in black outfits. This time around there was no jewellery accessories to the outfits.

Secondly, was the Dressmaking category where fashion enthusiasts saw classical ready to wear couture designs, ranging from exquisite Ankara Traditional Prints, to the inspirational leteisi which is a traditional German Print design, and the mmeto, which is a rough course brown fabric sack which was used for grain storage.

As music and fashion are perfect fusions to a fashion show, Lizibo continued to woe the crowd with his talent. In addition, the bar was raised when the Designers category took place. The silk incorporated with leteisi, mmeto and mogagolwane (the traditional shawl), prints and stripes were displayed.

The difference between a dressmaker and fashion designer was evident in the clothes and inspirations. As a fashion designer, one has a particular inspiration or motivation, and the story is told through a line of collection.

Botho Chalekwa, last year’s winner took a final bow with a high fashion couture collection that incorporated the reds, blacks and sellioete designs.

The moment of truth arrived when these men and women got rewarded for their tireless efforts and work. In the models category females, first place went to Teto Macheng, second to Precious Kavezedi and third to Matilda Pelaelo. The males saw Emmanuel Kayenda scooping the first position followed by Maina Thapedi and Lapologang Mojanaga.

In the Dressmaking category, at the top was Gomotsegang Mokopanele, Julia Kwele coming second and thirdly Gorata Mokopanele.

The Fashion Design saw Gift Lijani in third place, Lorato Barwabatsile in second and Thato Mminatau in first place.

All categories’ first prize was P10 000, second was P8000 and third prize was P6 000. ENDS