Botswana�s diversity inspires fashion designers

Dumisani Ncube | Friday July 17, 2015 18:00

 

This year’s fashion show at the President competition finals lived up to that adage as the fashion designers were mainly inspired by their respective backgrounds to make creative outfits that were showcased on the ramp.

About 40 fashion designers from across Botswana showcased their outfits, which they said were inspired by their backgrounds.

The creativity on display was out of this world considering how the designers put attention to detail and brought out unique elements in their dazzling costumes. Earthly colours such as brown were quite prominent among the outfits.

Dressmaker Gorata Mokopanele who hails from Matsiloje village designed outfits described as dry leaves of a watermelon.  Part of Makopanele’s collection was a long evening brown dress made of silk material with an opening on the chest, with strings holding the opening together, while it had what looked like dry leaves suspended on a branch at the back.

 Most of the designers added a modern twist to the traditional German print fabric.

Molepolole designer Lerato Barwabatsile used the German print material for a men’s collection of formal blazers and shirts. Some of her outfits were blue in colour, gaining inspiration from the national flag colors.

One designer who left the audience in awe was Gaone Mothibi, one half of the Gatshfro style gurus, who have been deemed as pioneers in the modern fashion world.

Male fashion designer Gift Lajini brought an urban street wear collection on the ramp, his collection had clothes such as jackets, overalls and backpacks. A number of fashion designers and fashionistas that witnessed the event left with different view and opinions.

Fashion analyst Teshawn Miller said most designers displayed a repetition of what is seen in various fashion shows, which became quite unexciting.  “Choosing earthly or dull colours is tricky because the look of your product, designers should have tried their best to work around more interesting pieces,” he said.

Miller advised designers to do extensive research when developing designs. He however said he was impressed that the outfits featured a prominent indigenous element.

“The indigenous look was very interesting as it showed some level of inspiration and how the designers appreciate their culture and roots,” he said.