18 Jan 2021

While some still struggle to implement their business ideas, especially now with uncertainties due to COVID-19, jazz sensation, Kearoma Rantao has a different story to tell.

She has birthed a clothing brand, Che ‘ri and her merchandise include t- shirts, caps, bucket hats among others.

Che ‘ri means a beautiful female and Rantao reckons the brand appreciates the beauty of females despite the challenges they encounter.

She said she opted to design for women because it was easy to know what they might prefer, and saved money on research.

“I am also a woman so, it was quite easy to come up with something that would thrill women and give them a fresh casual look especially during the festive season,” she said.

Explaining the birth of Che ‘ri, Rantao said she used her three-month relief payment received from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment Sport and Culture Development, meant to assist creatives during COVID-19.

Her share, which amounted to P7 500, was invested in a project she figured would not take long to yield positive results.

“This, is how the brand Che ‘ri came into being. When I received the money, I revisited the idea of a clothing brand I had shelved due to financial constraints,”  Rantao said.

She said the brand was well received though sales began September.

With her customers are mostly in Gaborone and surrounding areas, Rantao said she was making headways in Francistown, Kasane, Maun and other areas.

The reception has challenged her to expand and is now working on other brands, Abuti for males and Little Miss Che‘ri for the girls.

“I got requests to design similar smaller Che ‘ri t-shirts for the little ones and some requested for their male partners. I felt this was another business opportunity I could tap into hence I decided to work on the two brands to be rolled out soon,” she said.

Her products, she said were made and printed locally.

Some across borders have shown interest in her products but because of the movement restrictions, Rantao said she had not been able to fully fulfill their requests.

“The demand for Che ‘ri brand has been overwhelming but because the business is a solo effort for now, keeping up has been anything but easy,” she said.

However, Rantao said she was more that determined not to disappoint her customers.

She encouraged her colleagues in the creatives not to let COVID-19 steal their mojo and urged those who had received assistance to use the funds wisely

The pandemic, she said was a lesson to the creatives to find other sources of income.

“The suspension of festivals and other social gatherings have left us with serious financial challenges.     

CD and DVD sales have also dropped. This situation must be a lesson for us to not only depend on music,” she said.

Currently, Rantao is working on an international joint music album with 25 other musicians from five continents that include Europe, United States of America, Africa and Australia.

She said the project called World Peace Coalition was under Moojune Records in New York and participating artistes connected through zoom and other digital platforms. Ends