Local models to partake at a prestigious show
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday February 2, 2017 14:48
MBFW is a series of international fashion weeks sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and produced by IMG. Prominent MBFWs include events in Berlin, Australia, Georgia, Miami, Russia, Istanbul, Mexico, South Africa and New York. The event aims to showcase, promote and commercialise different designers’ talents from hosting countries. It brings together a number of fashionistas from all walks of entertainment industry.
In an interview with Showbiz, the pair said they were selected by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development to represent the country at MBFW, after taking part in the President’s Day Visual Arts competitions in 2015.
“I feel honoured to have been selected to partake in such a prestigious event. I was taking chances on this line of career in 2015 during the President’s Day competitions. After winning both regional and national competitions, I realised that I had potential in modeling and decided to take it seriously,” Letebele said.
He added that after scooping the second and fifth positions during the regional and national competitions respectively, his journey in the modeling industry started. He took part in some local fashion shows like Fashion X, both Masa and Grand Palm hotels Wedding Expos. Internationally, Letebele modeled at Intwasa and Top 10 designer fashion show both in Zimbabwe and Ekhurulehi Fashion Show in South Africa in 2015 and 2016.
He said he hopes to sign with a reputable agency.
“The fashion industry is growing locally. I want to show the nation that men can also take part in this female dominated industry and make a living out of it,” he said.
Reepanye who also started modeling during the President’s Day Art Competitions in 2015 got second position in both the regional and national competitions. The competition gave her the spotlight as she was then invited to model in some of the local fashion shows like Limkokwing Fashion Show and Dettol Fashion Show.
“I would like to see myself as an established brand both locally and internationally. However, it is not that easy. Even though modeling can be taken as a career, local companies and most of the designers expect us to do it for free. Many companies use their employees for branding instead of hiring professional models,” she said.
Reepanye said even though she is keen to take modeling as a full time career, it is not easy as the local industry is not fully developed. She said most of the fashion shows locally are held once or twice a year and as a result most of the models had to find ways to source income. She added that locally, private companies did not support the visual arts like in other countries.