Young Vibrant Motswana fashion entrepreneur recently visited Johannesburg to learn about how their blooming entertainment and fashion industry. His aim was learn how to grow his business via social media, networking and finding out about marketing agencies in South Africa that may be interested in using Botswana models for advertisement. Leatile Motlhalame also known as Latty, says he also wanted to explore and try research more about how locals can bridge the gap between themselves and international artists.
He had the opportunity to mingle and learn from the very talented duo called Adiambo Ndomba, who show cased at the Fashion without boarders Botswana.
Latty was also introduced to the talented jeweler called Blessing whose jewelry line is called @nutcaseActs and has exhibited at the South African Fashion Week.
Since the world is connected by the internet, social media helps one reach a global platform with ease. This can help by getting local models profiles to international agencies so that they can be scouted overseas as well as locally.
“African looks sell as in the case of Kaone Kario, which can apply to local musicians as well,” Latty says. Latty is set to travel to South Africa monthly to explore potential opportunities.
With the connections he made, he says, he was able to learn how to bridge the gap between Botswana industry and the South African industry.
Latty says he realized firsthand how the Botswana government is limiting the fashion and entertainment industry through alcohol levy, reducing operating hours for bars, restaurants and clubs as well as festivals alike. “In South Africa, fashion, modeling and entertainment are a multimillion Dollar industry which generates a lot of revenue for the country’s economy,” he says. During his stay he learned and opened his mind to new possibilities and exciting creative ways of doing things.
“In Johannesburg, fashion is everything. People take fashion seriously.” What he also noticed, Latty says, is that Batswana are too reserved, which he attributed to cultural dynamics. “People in SA wear custom made clothes from their own local fashion designers whereas Batswana usually buy clothes from chain stores.”
