Seloba Creations soars after Creation Botswana
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday August 29, 2025 12:32
Thapelo Mokgethi, the visionary founder of the outfit, never misses an opportunity that comes her way. When she spotted an advert from Creative Botswana seeking upcoming and established fashion designers to mentor and share skills, she seized the opportunity.
In a recent interview with Arts&Culture, Mokgethi revealed that she applied for the Creative Botswana mentorship program's Cohort One in 2024 and was thrilled to be among the selected participants.
'It was six months of high-class fashion master class and mentorship. Creation Botswana was sponsored by the French Embassy's Alliance Francaise Gaborone and the National Arts Council of Botswana. We went to South Africa for a week for a master class led by Lukhanyo Mdingi. We visited the likes of MAXHOSA AFRICA, David Tlale, imprints, and some CMTs for benchmarking and learning. There were some expectations from France, too, for more masterclasses for fashion,' she said.
After finishing the sessions, she said she was funded with P15k that she used to begin her ready-to-wear collection since they had been doing 'be spoke' for years. She said she used the funds to buy fabrics and rails for her shop, which is operating full-time at LEA.
'Our first prestige client or celebrity for our ready-to-wear collection is Miss Teen Botswana, Margret Nasha, who is currently wearing our kimono suit piece at the ongoing Miss Teen International competition. I am proud to have worked with Miss Teen Botswana for the past two years,' she added.
Speaking of the challenges that she faces as a fashion designer, she said the lack of finances is her biggest challenge. She pointed out that she needed more machines for more detailed sewing and for fabric sublimation.
Furthermore, Mokgethi stated that the local fashion industry has grown, but despite the growth, they are still facing some challenges, such as not getting enough support locally in terms of pricing. She added that clients want low prices and compared their designs to Chinese shops, hence giving them a slow rating of their business.
As her business continues to grow, Mokgethi is currently at the ongoing Botswana Consumer Fair, where she sells pants, kimonos, dresses, headbands, and bags.