BOFDA, CTFC sign MoU
Lekopanye Mooketsi | Friday July 18, 2014 11:30
The MoU was signed in Gaborone by officials of the local organsation and CTFC, which was represented by their Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bryan Ramkilawan. An elated Gregory Lebekwe, president of BOFDA revealed that CTFC will be helping local fashion designers to participate in both Africa and Cape Town fashion weeks.
According to the agreement, CTFC will guide the local association towards establishing hubs for fashion designers, and support them with technical guidance. The council, through the MoU, commits to help BOFDA towards the achievement of set goals of manufacturing standards adherence.
The council will also assist the association in hosting workshops to upgrade skills, technology and market advancement awareness. CTFC will also advise on the curricular content of tertiary level and help enlighten fashion designers on the emerging markets and requirements.
It will help encourage and support talented learners who intend to pursue a career in fashion, and promote local CMT (Cut, Make and Trim) factories internationally, since production costs are minimal in Botswana. The council will further help device marketing strategies for fashion in Botswana and internationally. It would also help the local association in insuring that potential local designers exhibit internationally. Lebekwe added that the agreement is going to open doors for them. He noted that Botswana stands to benefit a great deal from the MoU. He said CTFC is also willing to develop the fashion industry in the country.
“They will help fashion become profitable in our country,” he said. He added that Cape Town has shifted to become the fashion capital of the world.
Lebekwe said Ramkilawan, who was also one of the judges at the weekend’s presidential fashion designers and modelling competitions.
“He realised that we have so much talent,” Lebekwe said, adding that Ramkilawan was wondering where some of the local fashion designers have been.
“He even told us that some of our male models who participated in the modeling competition would never return if they were to go to Milan,” he said.
Lebekwe, who is also a veteran fashion designer, said they will be organising a fashion week in conjunction with CTFC. They will also be putting together incubators with the support of the South African organisation. Ramkilawan said they intend to develop the fashion industry in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. He said they have already made footprints in Africa. After adjudicating at the presidential competitions, Ramkilawan said he was going to send a casting agency into the country to scout for models.
One of the male models who captivated him was Kesegofetse Senna who scooped first prize. In his view, the young model has great potential to make it in the international modelling world.