13 Jul 2022

Gabs July organisers have unveiled Seven Batswana designers who will showcase their creations at the Gabs July fashion show billed for Game City rooftop on Friday.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development Peggy Serame will grace the glamorous event themed Winter Glamour which is a curtain raiser towards the inaugural Gabs July event penciled for Sebele Race track on July 30

In an interview the Gabs July Fashion Director Thabang Mmolotsi said the seven designers were Albertina Ntwaagae of Lira Fashions, Abbie Goabaone of Chosen Designs, Malebogo Diboko who owns MelG Designs, Thapelo Mokgethi of Seloba Creations, Gasegale Sengwaketse of Lutterich Bw, Chawada July who runs Butterfly Couture and Mummy Molapo of Art-I-Story.

One of the seven designers Molapo who has 10 years’ experience in the industry said she was passionate about fashion and textile.

“I have always been detail oriented and I pride myself in the craftsmanship of any product produced in Botswana. I also involve the locals from small villages in the production process to give jobs and share culture,” she said.

Sengwaketse of Lutterich Bw said she has been involved in the industry since 2015 and will showcase creations designed out of felt material, a warm fabric that speaks to the theme.

Felt material is a textile material produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibres together.

Mmolotsi said they called on interested designers to send their works and selected them based on their profiles.

She said initially they had wanted five but ended up selecting seven out of 22 who had shown interest.

South African top Fashion designer David Tlale will grace the event and tip the designers on the industry’s nitty-gritties.

“We have asked Tlale to give our models the opportunities to work with him in future,” she said.

Dr Thanolo Keutlwile the face of the fashion show will open the event, and is not new to the industry as she was among Miss Botswana 2021 Top 5 finalists.

Master of Ceremony for the night will be the Media Practitioner and Corporate Events Anchor Oratile Kefitlhile while Khoisan of Mpoledise fame will entertain the guests with their music.  ENDS