30 Apr 2015

Nature in her wisdom, has bestowed upon each and every individual a special gift called talent.

And this special gift must flow naturally and effortlessly to an individual for it to be called talent at all. If discovered early in life, talent can propel a person to self-actualisation and sustain them on top of the game for as long as they care to carry on.

Unfortunately, most people spend the rest of their lives stuck in things they were never meant for, or probably hoping to find themselves through the maze called life.
And like rain in the forest, some get wasted in things they were never meant for. This, therefore, goes without saying that it also takes wisdom for one to discover their talent and character. However, this was not something difficult for Ms Kabo Lediretse of Molapowabojang.

Some philosophers claim every child is an artist. They argue it depends on how far they take their talent as they grow. However,  the 33-year old Serowe born fashion designer knew well in 2010 when she enrolled for a fashion and fabric course at Madirelo Trades Training Centre (MTTC) that she would use talent to earn a living.

“This break, I was confident, would someday make me my own boss,” enthuses Ms Lediretse. “I have always known that I had this talent. I grew up making dresses for dolls from a very tender age but then decided to turn this passion into a job,” says Ms Lediretse with a chuckle.

Ms Lediretse, who trades by the name Kb’s universal fashions and fabrics, received assistance from the Youth Development Fund (YDF) in 2012 to follow her dream.
“I am very creative and I allow my creativity to take flight and this helps me keep pace with the latest trends and fashion in the market,” she adds.

She designs wedding gowns, evening wear, traditional attire, home crafts like cushions, curtains for individuals and weddings. Like a prophet who is never appreciated, or if anything very little at home, KB as she is affectionately known, says she makes good business selling her products in places such as Lobatse and Gaborone than she does in

Molapowabojang.However, like a winner who never quits, she has big plans for the village she now calls home. Despite some challenges such as high rentals, her outlook remains positive. Like a visionary, she sees growth in her products and plans to scale up her business this year.

“I have already secured a plot where people can take pictures during special occasions and my products will be readily available on display for paying customers,” she says.

Sharing pearls of wisdom, she encourages others especially young people not to despair when their businesses experience teething problems. She says one does not become a failure because one has tried and failed but because they stopped trying.

KB’s universal fashion and fabrics director says business, just like a flower, needs to be nourished with patience day in and day out. Ends