Botswana’s fashion blends heritage cloth with a young design scene, centred on Gaborone.
Leteisi, a fabric of heritage
Leteisi is a printed and dyed cotton with geometric patterns, which arrived in Botswana via South Africa’s Eastern Cape and Natal after originating in Germany. First linked with Tswana groups such as the Bakgatla and Bakwena, it is now worn by all of Botswana’s ethnic groups at weddings, patlo ceremonies, kgotla meetings and funerals. Originally indigo, it now comes in many colours, and designers blend it with silk and use it for menswear.
Designers and events
Botswana’s professional design community took shape in Gaborone in the early 2000s. Mpho Kuaho, of the label Jophes 09267, was one of the earliest designers and co-founded Colour in the Desert Fashion Week in 2011, considered the country’s first formal fashion week. Fashion Without Borders Africa has been held each October in Gaborone since 2014.
Basketry
Beyond clothing, Wayeyi and Hambukushu women in Etsha and Gumare weave baskets from Mokola palm with local dyes.
Sources: Wikipedia: Fashion in Botswana, Wikipedia: Culture of Botswana.
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