24 Oct 2023

Fashion Without Boarders (FWBB) promises to be an unforgettable event for decades to come due to its nature. The event in its 9th year running in

Botswana celebrates the beauty of diversity through African fashion and provides a platform for upcoming models and designers to showcase their incredible talent and creativity.

The organizers brought together fashion enthusiasts and industry professionals for the last lap of the three-day event that showcased collections ranging from avant-garde haute couture to ready-to-wear collections during the event held at GICC in Gaborone on Saturday,

Managing Director of the event, Serge Kabisoso said this year’s itinerary started with an exclusive fashion showcase and art exhibition at the National Museum on Thursday and proceeded with a Fashion Unpacked Masterclass the following day.

He said what was unique about the weekend event was that they were able to host and celebrate young designers from the age of nine who showcased their work.

“We made a milestone this year by hosting one of the biggest numbers of models, about 55 in all, 45 being Batswana and 10 from South Africa and neighbouring countries. We also had 16 designers, 11 being Batswana and five from outside the country,” he said.

Their aim was to spread wings to Mozambique, eSwatini and Kenya to share the culture and the love of fashion.

Co-founder of the event, Tebo Bakwena-Kabisoso said this year, they collaborated with CTM to tap into creativity by forging ways to incorporate

Batswana designs and patterns on tiles they usually use to decorate homes.

She said their wish was to see the best fashion designers collaborating with CTM and added that Friday’s exhibition promoted that as some Batswana would get the opportunity to be trained by the tile company.

“It will be good to witness first-hand fusion of traditional African aesthetics with contemporary designs, as these emerging talents redefine the fashion landscape in Botswana,” she said.

Radio and television personality Vincent Roman Mateisi, also the event’s consultant said FWBB bridged the gap between what was done here in Botswana in terms of fashion as compared to other countries.

He observed that every year, three designers are chosen to be part of Mr Price Group and they could testify to the impact work that FWBB had done on their careers, citing designers like Bantu Gold.

Taking note of how the fashion industry continued to evolve and diversify, the Store Manager at CTM in Gaborone West Industrial, Tshepho Ditsebe commended efforts by FWBB for bringing them on board to collaborate with local fashion designers.

He said CTM wanted Batswana fashion designers to work hard and be resilient since the market was open for them, adding that they have recently partnered with a Creative Fashion Designer Thabo Makhetha–Kwinana, a Lesotho native for some of the designs and patterns on their tiles.

“We are into fashion because we embraced a specific tile design. This should open their minds, more so that we have joined hands with the fashion industry to show them that the sky is the limit,” he said.

Makhetha–Kwinana in an interview said that she was in Botswana for the first time because of the collaboration with CTM.

“I am impressed by the designers that have come to exhibit their clothes. It is quite exciting to see where fashion is going in the continent,’ she said.

Because of her love for her culture, she has travelled to France, the USA, UK to learn about other people’s cultures and showcase her’s.

The event was celebrated under the theme: Celebrating 9 Years of Empowering Upcoming Models and Designers.  ENDS