UB Fashion Show Unlike Any Other

Spira Tlhankane | Monday February 22, 2016 15:18

 

In front of a panel of judges, the models strutted down the catwalk and added personal touches to their poses.

The show started off strong with a Xhosa culture-inspired line from local designer, Thato Gaofenngwe Mminatau. Her collection was so unique with a blend of animal prints.

 The designer also used matlhoa, feathers, and fur to make designs more tourism-orientated. Mminatau also used material from traditional sacks to make dresses.

She said her zebra print line was meant to promote Botswana tourism and show variety. “We don’t have to leave our culture behind. We can modify our traditional material and fit them into today’s fashion,” she said.  With the amount of culture invested into the designs, the fashion show was more like an African cultural show than a regular fashion show. The audience, which was mostly made up of UB students, was very appreciative of the energy and beauty displayed on the runway. Given that the runway was not an actual stage, the models confidently strutted down the shiny floor in stilettos. 

The next lines were from Kesaobaka Kemolatlhe of Face Fashion Week.  His first line called Melanin was black combined with African print. His other line was strictly black. Kemolatlhe told Showtime that he likes the wild hence coming up with an African-inspired line.

Kemolatlhe, who is a student at UB, said he showcased at the fashion show because he wanted publicity.

Show organiser and SRC minister of student affairs, Valenciah Mahatshwa said the fashion show was meant to hype the upcoming pageant.

“It’s the first time to do this and as the SRC we wanted to involve the students and be different,” she said.

The Miss UB Pageant will be held at UB Amphitheatre on Friday.