An eccentric Boho-chic touch
Dumisani Ncube | Friday May 20, 2016 14:40
Sekate (27) is an all-round fashion designer, who has adopted and applied the Boho-chic element on the various designs that she works on. They range from clothing, bags, jewellery and home décor, which have a modern day twist and some African elements. Her works, trading under the label Seatbelts and Open Spaces has an eccentric touch.
“I am trying to mix the Boho-chic element and mix it with some Setswana elements. For instance, I can mix elements from Dukwi with some Boho-chic style,” she explains.
Sekate’s designs capitalise on her creativity when working on her craft. She uses cheap materials like her neck pieces made from old T- shirts that she bleached, changed colours then braided to come up with neck pieces of different designs.
She also uses recycled old clothes such as jeans to come up with different designs of bags and clothes. Her designs, especially dresses quickly show one that they are reminded of the Boho-chic style. As from the earrings that she makes, they have the traditional metallic ring, but she added some wool strings that will be suspended on the jewellery piece. Since she applies the Boho-chic touch dark colours and faded colours are dominant in her designs. “I prefer dark colours because I am an earthy person”.
When quizzed on how she conceptualises and come up with such creative designs she says, “I don’t necessarily look for trends, I am eccentric, quirky, very simple and I am liberal with my choices. I want to create a timeless classic lifestyle”. She also says that having stayed in Durban for a couple of years, she got inspired to have a Boho-chic taste. “I am naturally a free-spirited person,” she says.
The young creative further states that the type of materials that she will be using at that particular moment inspire some of her designs.
Sekate’s designs are quite different from what a number of fashion designers are doing. She has her own style that gives her access to a certain market.
“With the style that I am doing I have a certain market that understands my craft and is willing to buy,” she says. There are a number of people that have developed interest in purchasing Sekate’s craft as they like her style. One notable person that understands Seatbelts and Open Spaces’ style is musician, Mpho Sebina who has on numerous occasions showcased the products on stage. With the help of the songstress marketing her craft, she believes that it is high time the country has brand ambassadors.
Seatbelts and Open Spaces products have been showcased on different platforms such as the Rail Park Flea market and seen on Freshly Ground’s lead singer, Zolani Mahola, who donned Sekate’s neck piece during the group performance at Botswanacraft.
Most designers in the country are not diverse as they focus and specialise on certain fashion avenues, but with Sekate she is an all-rounder who does curtains, clothes, bags, jewellery and other crafty materials.
“I want to give my market diverse options. I want them to feel as if they are in a shop that sells different things. I can make all of them, so why can’t I make them?”
As a fashion designer whose style is different from what the society is usually used to seeing she has her own challenges as it is not everyone that is willing to purchase her stuff.
Sekate has gone as far as Maun to sell her craft, “Some tourists have told me that my designs are not African enough despite having some African elements on them”.
She noted that as a designer and young entrepreneur she is facing financial challenges of establishing her business as she has been applying for funds for a long period of time without any positive feedback.
“My type of business requires me to purchase raw material before I start making any designs, therefore capital is needed when doing such a business. We need capital to help us market our craft using the proper channels”.
Sekate is looking forward to employing a number of young women upon getting sufficient funds as a way of eliminating unemployment in the society.