01 Nov 2022

 Renowned fashion designer, Lesedi Matlapeng was in Sweden for the Stockholm International Fashion Fair (STOIFF), which ended on Saturday.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA on Monday, Matlapeng said she received the invitation a few weeks back and could not miss the opportunity, since showcasing there had always been on her bucket list.

Matlapeng, who is clocking 16 years in the fashion industry, said she got recognition from Stockholm fashion show organisers after showcasing her designs for the Botswana independence in 2019, as part of a culture display by the Botswana Embassy in Sweden. 

 “They also saw the outfits that are worn by the Botswana Ambassador in Sweden, Ms Chanda Nteta because I am her designer, that’s when they extended the invitation for me to come and be part of the fair,” she said.

Matlapeng said she had the opportunity to showcase about 12 pictures of her designs and 15 outfits.

“The designs that I showcased were dresses and pants and people loved them and I made sure I followed the theme of the fashion show, which was Diversity and Multiculturalism in Ethical Fashion,” she added

 Matlapeng, whose trip was self-sponsored, expressed gratitude to the Botswana Embassy in Stockholm for the continued support, the spirit of patriotism and the hospitality.

Her advice to designers who aspire to be where she is, is to be patient and work hard, adding, “be different and creative in style and deliver on time and also stay humble; bathong, that has kept me going”.

The STOIFF focuses on sustainable and ethical fashion and also aims to explore cultures through fashion and bring forward creativity, self-expression and ingenuity as well as to promote fashion designers from all around the world and cultures in Sweden, leading by example to create a diverse, multicultural and ethical fashion brand.

“Through this event, we wish to transmit the values of sustainable development, ethics, diversity and multiculturalism. We believe that sustainable fashion should be applied in Sweden, but also worldwide,” says the organisers in their Facebook page. Ends