Expressing Art Through Fashion

FRANCISTOWN: The love for art has enthused Nicky Nteseletsang, a teacher by profession, to step out of her comfort zone and work at realising her burning desire for art, through fashion.

The trendy Gweta-born lady has drawn inspiration from traditional and African print bags and accessories to feed her unique contemporary designs and expose her fashion sense. Trading  as “Old Traditions&Dynamics”, her elegant bags are made in flamboyant shapes with traditional materials that give them a modern look and yet still preserve the traditional outlook. Nteseletsang has seen her passion grow from just raising eyebrows on the streets to ultimately evolving into a part time business. She makes all types of bags from backpacks, hobo bags, bucket bags, minaudiere bags, clutch bags to mention but a few. “I had no initial plans to start a business out of this (designing bags); it was purely my love for fashion and a desire to design for myself, and it caught the eye and as they say the rest is history,” Nteseletsang said.

Her affection for fashion knows no limits. Apart from designing bags, she designs accessories in the form of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings from beads, and usually, to match her bag designs.Having witnessed a transition of fashion from traditional African fashion to the current European inspired fashion as she was growing up, Nteseletsang said she was inspired to draw a fusion for both fashion senses. “I am trying to conserve traditional fashion but I am also not restricting my designs from modern day fashion. I want the designs to have a traditional identity hence the traditional materials I use in my designs,” she said. The 39-year-old entrepreneur said her self-sponsored business that operates from home strives from the feedback she gets from her loyal customers that continue to inspire her business and unleash her talent towards greater growth. “My loyal customers have inspired my business growth and I owe it to them. I have now gone as far as branding my personal vehicle to draw more attention.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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