All Kasi back to its casual wear

Spira Tlhankane | Friday January 18, 2019 12:29

 

The hit was done by Botswana’s finest musicians including Vee Mampeezy, Nomadic, Exodus, Scar, Mr Doe, Oracle and Kast just to mention but a few in order to appreciate the local label. 

With casual t-shirts and bucket hats branded AK, the song went on to push All Kasi as the finest local brand on the scene. As the years went by, All Kasi continued to create the finest bespoke garments and they ventured into the sportswear and iconically dressed The Zebras, Botswana’s national football team, during their maiden appearance at the African Cup of Nations in 2012.

As they continued to discover the best designs for sports teams like netball and basketball, the local brand left behind the must-haves for Batswana’s wardrobe, which is the casual wear.

After so much focus in the sportswear on the past, All Kasi will finally reintroduce their casual wear.

When they started in 2000, the clothing brand co-owned by Ludo Kemoeng and Bance Maplanka began by producing the casual wear.

In an interview with Arts & Culture, Thuto Kemoeng from All Kasi marketing team said they pride themselves as the first local label.  “When we started, there wasn’t any recognised local label yet so we decided to get our blue, black and white colours to pride ourvselves as Batswana,” he explained.

Kemoeng said the casual wear they made when they started out were t-shirts, caps and hats. “We then pushed further to bring denim and sneakers around 2007,” he added.

He recalled that as a company, they wanted to grow so they ventured into the sportswear business; making kits for national teams and clubs. “Sportswear was a very good market for us, so we ended up focusing on it,” he said.

Kemoeng added that they forgot totally about casual wear. He said this year they are bringing back their v-necks, round necks, All Kasi shield, winter hoodies and golf shirts amongst others.

“The reason we went back to casual wear is that sports kits were very sophisticated and the designs were nice. It forced us to introduce one kit after another and it weighed down on us,” he highlighted.

Kemoeng said they have done so many designs during their time with The Zebras National Team and Extension Gunners Football Club. “We brought that simplicity and authentic streetwear back.” He also said that the casual wear is already available in their stores all over the country as well as at their factory in Lobatse.

Kemoeng said the casual wear would focus on the primary blue, black and white colours because it represent All Kasi.

“It’s hard for someone to recognise All Kasi in red colours unless it’s a kit,” he said. He added that the casual wear is made mostly using cotton and other ordinary material.

“We try (to) use similar fabrics as your ordinary t-shirt rather than what we use in sportswear,” he said. He said the similarity is that they like using detail because they produce quality. “The designs speak to the viewer but is also silent.” He emphasised that there will not be less focus on sportswear because they push a lot of sales there. Kemoeng was also quick that All Kasi was a big label with a complex of factories.

Unlike in the past when they involved musicians to produce that famous All Kasi Anthem, Kemoeng said this time they are on the ground pushing the brand.

“We are planning an appreciation party in Francistown because that is where most of our customers are,” he said, adding that sportswear took most of their attention such that they ended up forgetting their roots. 

“We are trying to level the field and give Batswana what they want. We still pride ourselves as the best,” he said. All Kasi introduced the casual wear not long after it was identified as one of the top most admired brands in the country alongside international brand, Nike.  GeoPoll did the research and All Kasi clinched the title of the nation’s favourite brand as a sportswear both locally and internationally.