Expressing Art Through Fashion

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday July 11, 2016 14:57

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.

I also distribute flyers to reach other potential clients. I have grown confident from the response I previously got and I am ready to take my business to the world,” she said.  She added that due to financial constraints she could not afford to purchase the upholstery machines, which can increase production to meet the demand of her products, but that does not deter her. Nteseletsang disclosed that besides being a teacher by profession and a designer, she is also pursuing another dream of being a motivational speaker in order to empower other people especially the youth. Her advice to the youth, particularly those in the field of art, is to be diligent, focused, patient and more passionate in order to succeed.