Volume 65 December 2026-January 2026 : Art & Culture

Their ability to match and merge culture within their design is absolutely incredible. 

The 10 designers chosen and selected from 28 others, supported by Creation Botswana, joined a Pitch Competition at National Museum, where the 10 finalists pitched their fashion business brands and projects in front of potential investors.

With a programme designed to capacitate designers to have a global vision, all the designers were selected from across the country. 

Lucara Diamond Company glimmered the event by increasing the price of the first two winners from P50 000 to P100 000. 

Sabine Matsheka of Maru designs and Alice and Teresa Jonas of Ali and Tess Designs appeared to have stunned the judges as they each walked away with the best clothing designs award of P100 000 each.  

Mboko Basiani of Glotto went away with the second price of P20 000 courtesy of Creation Botswana. 

The trio appreciated ABSA Bank and Lucara Botswana for the support, citing the mind blowing and intense job the judges did.  Still in the same mood, they mentioned that fans and well-wishers of the creative industry are excited about the future of fashion in Botswana.

Probably this could be the reason that prompted South African designer, legendary Rich Mnisi to award a fourth special price to a brand that he thought was immaculate. 

“May be the owner struggled with the presentation. But her pitched clothing brand was really amazing. The price goes to Botho Chalegwa-Nsala of Bothocy Designs,” Mnisi said.  

In addition, all the first three winners received an all-expenses-paid trip, courtesy of Lucara, to tour the Karowe Diamond Mine in Letlhakane and Lucara’s Corporate Office as part of their winnings.

The event is an opportunity for designers to practice how they sell their brands, especially pitching to designers and investors who are from different markets to that of Botswana. 

Creation Botswana President, Bokani Machinya says the event is something that people should aspire for and value.

One sponsor, the French Embassy represented by the French Ambassador Olivier Brochenin described the occasion as exceptional, saying it bridges the distance between France and Botswana through culture. 

“Culture is a universal language rooted specifically in Botswana. Today we see designers speaking this culture in their brands,” Brochenin noted. 

Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Arts, Tebogo Matebesi noted the effort of Creation Botswana in helping designers to become better, mentioning it is something commendable.

 He said the government recognised the creative industry and will generate more jobs as it has a lot of value chains.

“What they are doing fits in to the film and theatre industry. When I think of diamonds and music you fit in there. When we see a programme such as this one, equipping people such as designers to understand their crafts, we are moved to propel it forwards,” he said.

The Managing Director of Lucara Botswana, Nassem Lahri said the company also gave a consolation of P10 000 to everybody who did not get a price. 

“I applaud all competitors. The support price depict that everybody was a winner, it is only that there has to be those who get the first price,” she said in a jubilant mood. 

  The winner of the special award, 37-year -old Chalengwa-Nsala of Bothocy said first, designers should understand the climate they work in, how they will maneuverer, because that would dictate how they tell their story. 

She said by deciding their target market, designers would be in a position to define their strategy better. 

“Any designer looking forward to compete must plan for an authentic story, whether the authenticity comes from identity, culture or environment, it will help them to tell a strong brand story,” she said. She advocated for team-work, saying designers who are very intentional about building the industry must move as a team. 

“I aligned myself with corporates, being a service provider for their needs, forming relations with them, since my brand is the empowerment of women through Setswana cultural values and what they mean to help women face challenges, she highlighted.

Prominent fashion expert, Lukhanyo Mdingi, based in Cape Town, South Africa linked the success of designers in the international market to understanding the foundation of their business, having the right strategy in order to start exporting the products. 

He noted that the essentials that one needs to export should be in place, including paper work, emphasising more ground work before one could talk about opportunities to export. 

Mdingi said designers need to be resilient, passionate, have strong marketing skills and proper background to build a strong brand for their companies. The renowned designer who has been to over 20 countries worldwide said the event created a platform for the attendees to know who they are, identifying where they want to go.  He emphasised that he has learned in Botswana, the importance of human relationships, which he believed carried a lot of value, 

“People really need to pay to attend and honour this and I urge designers to put in place their succession plan to have continuity of their brands,” he said.  

Creation Botswana was launched in September 2024 and is financed by the Embassy of France in Botswana, implemented by the Alliance Française of Gaborone and the National Arts Council of Botswana with the support of creative hub La Halle Tropisme (Montpellier, France). 

Its objective is to support the structuring of the Botswana fashion industry, with a holistic approach that combines mentoring, training, mobility, financing and networking.  ENDS

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