02 Apr 2019

 Mr Mershack Mooketsi of Masunga says he has overcome academic failure to pursue a business in order to sustain his family. 

When narrating his story recently, Mr Mooketsi said after he failed his Junior Certificate, he was jobless with no money to take care of himself.

“After roaming the streets doing nothing, I met Johannes Baleseng, who introduced me to tailoring, thanks to Baleseng, he was a God sent,” he said.

He said in 2001, he started a business that specialised in repairing ready-made garments, designing wedding outfits and school uniform at African Mall in Gaborone.

He said even though the business was not making huge profits, it generated an income that helped him feed his family.

Mr Mooketsi said fashion designing and tailoring business needed someone who was focused, determined and valued customer satisfaction.

He said there were many fashion designers in African mall, some near his business, but it was still booming because he valued quality, good delivery and customer satisfaction.

He said he beat his competitors by using modern African prints and florals, while most of his competitors were focusing on old fashioned styles and prints.

Furthermore, Mr Mooketsi said prints were attractive and adorable but they were mastered by few, because they needed imagination and creativity.

“Fashion designing is not a bed of roses as some may think, it needs determination, hard work and passion to be fruitful,” he said.

Mr Mooketsi said the business was seasonal, therefore one must not lose focus when knocking off without any money, but rather have faith and know that every business was full of ups and downs.

The fashion designer advised the youth to follow their passion and live their dreams since everything was possible if one was keen to succeed in life.

Moreover, he encouraged them to always know that education was a powerful weapon to unlock intellectual wealth, adding if one was not academically endowed, they must not despair but rather utilise their talent to improve their lives.

ENDS