Marks makes knitting appealing

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday October 14, 2016 18:00

 

The 26-year-old multi-talented artist’s crochets are a wide range of exquisite wool items. Her brand called Bantu Kini has a wide range of items varying from swimwear, stuffed animals, bags, assorted tops and house ornaments.

“I always wanted to have a swimwear line, but I did not want to use a machine.  Early this year I researched online then I realised that people can in fact use wool or other forms of craft to make various clothes.  I decided to use wool as I knew that I have always been good with crafts since early childhood.  That is when I started crocheting,” she said.

Marks, who is also a singer, said when she started her line she used ordinary wool where she knitted beautiful purple bikini sets.  After realising that she could still knit, the young woman’s passion for making clothing out of wool grew. She later conducted more research and learnt that there were other types of wools she could use that are more comfortable and appealing.

She added that those wools are also durable.  Marks said she is using 100% cotton and 100% bamboo yarns to make her products.  She said in some of her underwear, she puts a lining to makes them more comfortable.

“Just like any other designer, I draw most of my designs before crocheting,” she explained.

They young gifted artist further explained that her line, Bantu Kini comes from the Bantu speaking people and the Kini part comes from the word bikini.  She explained that her intention was to come up with a line that would reflect the name and thus she intends to use earth colours, African colours, shells and beads to complement the line.

However, even though the young woman is getting positive response from her clients, she said many people give her compliments, but are dragging their feet to buy her product as they feel it is expensive.  She pointed out that her prices are reasonable looking at the fact that she had to import the wools (yarn) she is using from overseas and that it takes hard work and time to create her magnificent pieces.

She also pointed out that buying materials in Botswana was also a challenge as there was shortage of material and that it was costly. Marks said as a result she was forced to import her material from abroad.  She also said working from home was not ideal as her clients had to go to her house to buy her designs.  She said working at home inconvenienced her, as the space was limited.

“The other challenge that I am facing is that people don’t understand the durability of wool.  I would like to promise them that the wool that we are using is durable and comfortable,” she said.

Marks is trying her best to market her brand.  She said she had showcased her products at events such as Farmers Market and Chill Step Sundays and others.  She said her sponsor, Go Get Media helped her enormously through branding, coverage, posters, photography and others. 

An entrepreneur who is also a qualified film producer, said she wants to see her brand growing and be a fully blown fashion line.  She would like to incorporate cloth and wool in her designs to give them a unique look. She said she hopes that in the near future she would introduce a baby line.  She said she intends to have her own shop and hire a few youth as a way of tackling the high unemployment rate in the country.