Stylist-cum-fashion producer, Tumelo Nkwe, told Arts & Culture that her recent work with De Beers in London has been an eye opener and an opportunity to expose Botswana’s creative talent to the outside world.
The world’s leading diamond company, De Beers had engaged Nkwe as a producer for the company’s fashion show following their Business Excellence Seminar in London. According to Nkwe, the partnership with De Beers first came about at Dubai when they did a show with De Beers for their Business Gala Dinner, which ended with a fashion show.
In the wake of that gig, Nkwe said he set up a team to take part at the event, which included fashion designer Lesedi Matlapeng, five local models as well as some dancers of Mophato Dance Theatre. “The opportunity started from Dubai and we then added more people this time around. We added five models and more dancers from Mophato Dance Theatre.
It was a good opportunity for the crew to work with a big company like De Beers. It has also allowed me to open opportunities for younger models I took to London,” he said. Nkwe, who has earned a name as an assistant producer, has worked in South African under Jan Malan a company called Umzingeli Productions. Nkwe has taken part in a number of international fashion events, which include Zimbabwe Fashion Week, Cape Town Fashion Week, and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa.
In a brief interview with Arts & Culture one of the participants Matlapeng, who is fashion designer, said the opportunity to showcase in London could not have come at the right time. Matlapeng, who owns Kefseddy Design (Pty) Ltd, said the gig will open more doors for her as a fashion designer. Matlapeng had the experience to design the dresses for the fashion show.
“For me this is big because it will open doors for us. We finally felt the recognition that we deserve and indeed we showed that we are talented. I always feel like we are not taken seriously but I think they were impressed with my work,” she said.
She highlighted that this gig provided a great opportunity to showcase creativity as well as the local talent.
