13 Oct 2022

Designers billed to showcase at the Fashion Without Borders event at Gaborone-GICC, Saturday will get a chance of being the three that will benefit from a fully funded Internship Training Programme courtesy of Mr Price Group Durban, South Africa.

Tebo Bakwena-Kabisoso, Co-Founder of Efigy productions which runs the event said as designers showcase their creativity, the selection on the other hand would afford them opportunities available in the fashion, textile and clothing industries.

She said such opportunities have the potential to transform lives, particularly for women and young people. Bakwena-Kabisoso noted that the eighth episode of Fashion Without Borders

Botswana would be held under the theme: Fashion Frontiers, and was not only open to local designers but to others from among others South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique. Bakwena-Kabisoso said the theme aimed to highlight issues that affected the fashion community and also serve as a good cause for issues of concern.

She noted they have teamed up with Avon, South Africa on the campaign #watchmenow on the Avon breast cancer crusade in an effort to teach young women and men in the industry to unite and attack breast cancer hence the hashtag #know your body #early detection saves lives.

Bakwena- Kabisoso highlighted that participating designers have been tasked with collectively preparing a gift collection to be worn by media personalities who would be advocating for breast cancer awareness through social media on the event day.

She was happy that despite the years of disruption due to COVID-19, the fashion industry was beginning to find its feet again.

“It was during the pandemic that we saw technology and social media being used on a massive scale to keep people safe, productive, and connected,” she highlighted. She urged young and upcoming fashion designers to continue taking advantage of the digital transformation to improve their speed in marketing, implementing sustainable innovation in their core product design, manufacturing, and supply chain processes.

She said  Fashion Without Borders has grown in leaps and bounds to become more focused on the entertainment aspect rather than becoming a business. On this note, she said the event was now held three times a year in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Botswana.

The event is now extending to Mozambique and Zambia under the capable expertise of Team Efigy Productions, she said.

Fashion Without Borders is a lifestyle event that includes pop-up stalls, industry-related workshops and opportunities. “The idea is to create a fashion triangle between Botswana, South Africa and DRC where designers get to connect on a common ground of trading freely and knowledge sharing,” she said.

This year’s Fashion Without Borders has hosted a blend of new talent, emerging and established names comprising Anzatia, by Althea Andrews from Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa ENDS