27 Sep 2022

The birth of Botswana/South Africa annual fashion show represents a new beginning for Botswana fashion industry.

The fashion show came into being during celebrations  of Botswana/South Africa 28-year of bilateral trade relations in Gaborone in August.

South Africa High commissioner, Thaninga Shophe-Soumah told BOPA in a recent interview that the idea was not to just have a fashion showcase, but a workshop initiative that would benefit the industry in Botswana.

“We want to help elevate the quality of designs produced by Botswana designers as well as encourage an interchange between Botswana designers and those of other countries,” stated Shophe-Soumah.

Shophe-Soumah said the initiative would be a platform for local designers to work with their peers outside Botswana, adding that they had roped in the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, so that the idea of introducing workshops came to fruition .

Without disclosing dates and programmme of the workshop, she said it would entail aspects of fashion design as tailoring, cuttings, sewing, finishings and others involved in producing quality pieces that could sell in the international market.

Shophe-Soumah said the local market was small, owing to population size hence designers should also target international customers.

“They can only therefore market their designs outside the country once their products are able to compete with designers internationally,” stated Shophe-Soumah, adding that most designs here were for the local market.

Additionally, she said local designers should have a platform similar to Young Designers Emporium shop in South Africa where people could shop for designs while at the same time marketing themselves. ENDS