06 Jun 2022

Organisers are hard at work in preparation for the Batho Fashion Week that will see models strutting their stuff at the monumental Kazungula Bridge showcasing collections from different designers.

As part of the event preparations, casting calls or auditions were held in Gaborone on Saturday to select models who will be part of the fashion week that aims to discover, scout and ignite talent.

Organiser and concept creator of the fashion week idea Emmanuel Kayenda said the event to be hosted at the new Kazungula Bridge from July 28-31 in Kasane will showcase among other things African culture through fashion.

He hoped the event would also attract both domestic and international tourists.

“This event is about diversifying our economy, particularly Kasane which has been the wildlife tourism spot for many years,” he said.

He said as the pioneer of the fashion week and a model himself, he felt compelled to impart skills to other youths and commercialise what he had learnt in his career.

He urged other youths to think smart and look for fresh ideas to make it on their own. 

“We do need government support, yes, but we can do without running to government. We should be diverse and make things happen for us and not always take from government,” he said.

Kayenda said the fashion week would be open to different nationalities to tell a story of African people as encompassed by the bridge which connects countries of Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.

 “Batho Fashion Week is about people, we do not see colour or nationality. 

It is a diversified fashion ramp where we will see models freely telling their stories on the runway,” he said.

Some of the models who came for casting shared their experience and their expectation of the fashion week.

Tsame Rabula, who is a Chemistry student at the University of Botswana, said he wished for more of similar events which he said could contribute to the development of models in Botswana.

“For us to be recognised internationally, we need to have more of these events to give us the experience we can get by interacting with other experienced models and designers in the industry,” stated Tsame who started modelling in 2021.

With male modelling in Botswana as a fairly new phenomenon, Douglas Keokgale Keokgale said even though he started in 2018 he regarded himself as a newbie.

“These events give us exposure that will eventually help us to establish our careers in modelling. ENDS