Traditionally, the fabric is used for events like Kgotla meetings or weddings. But overtime it has become prominent in the fashion industry as more and more Batswana embrace our tradition.
With many fashion brands trialing and testing out different ideas, it is evident that the untested waters of the Leteisi have potential to take the world by storm. Leteisi, otherwise known as German print, originates from as far back as the mid 1850s when it was presented to one chief as a present from the white missionaries.
On Saturday, the Bojanala Water Front venue was filled to the brim with both the young and the old who embraced the theme. One would count a few odd ones out who wore jeans and T shirts. Judging from their faces they too felt they did not belong.
A walk around the venue, it was predominately the females who brought their A game in terms of the fashion creativity whilst most men rocked the normal white shirts with a touch of leteisi.
The ladies took creativity to another level. The different designs were a marvel to watch. Brief interviews with a few attendees described their designs as having been inspired by the modern touch infused with the traditional blue, black and white leteisi. “I knew I was coming to a music festival so I couldn’t exactly go the long tights skirt route.
I wanted to look cute and also be able to dance the night away,” said one of attendants when speaking to Showtime. Another attendant said: “I never miss this event because it gives me a chance to have grown folk fun whilst looking hot in my traditional outfit.
Ke Mokalaka (I am from the Kalanga tribe) so this is why you see my outfit is predominantly black and white because these are the colours we use for our traditional outfits.” The crowd, whose age was no barrier, danced the night away mostly to oldies music from the 90s which received the most attention. "Rona re ma 74," some could be heard saying as they danced along to music from the likes of Brenda Fassie, Trompies, Mafikizolo, just to mention but a few.
