Stop Chinese from selling leteisi � designers
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Thursday November 9, 2017 18:00
Recently, one of local designers Tankiso Mathware decided to take a stand and write a plea to the government of Botswana through the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng to ban the Chinese retailers from selling local products.
“Chinese sell leteisi, African print dresses and even mogagolwane wa rona wa Setswana. We are already struggling as it is in the fashion and textile industry hence we cannot compete with Chinese.
“They sell very low quality products at bulk sale. Our industry has the potential to grow but we cannot if we aren’t protected. Chinese must be stopped. They are undermining our businesses. Please help us (sic),” she pointed out in a letter that was sent to the minister through his Facebook page.
One of the fashion designers; Pinkie Plaatjie Nkhwa said it was about time fashion designers came together as one and speak in one voice. “Unemployment is high; we could be hiring more youth and reducing the numbers but we cannot since the business is slow. More and more Batswana are going to close their shops because it is impossible to compete with the Chinese. This is heartbreaking,” she added.
In her Facebook page a local designer, Kaone Moremong of House of Kay pointed out that they need an effective and operational fashion council. She said until they come together as people in the fashion industry they will not be able to win the fight.
“Importation levy tax of textile products into our country is 45% so imagine re bereka go smuggler matsela into our country which does not produce any matsela at all and makes no sense; 90% of clothing manufacturers in our country are not Batswana and do not employ Batswana or underpay the Batswana they employ.
“They do not train in any way or improve them (ba hiretswe hela go bua le Batswana - reception type duties le go taboga go reka matsela. No price regulations for us or textile shops or quality control strategies.
“There is not one matsela (textile) shop owned by Motswana in Gaborone,” she pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Chinese shops in and around Gaborone do not only sell either leteisi, traditional Setswana megagolwane but also sell school uniforms that includetrack suits and jerseys leaving the local designers and seamstresses stranded as they lose clients to the Chinese retailers. These shops do not only sell simple mateisi dresses; they also sell different, exquisite appearing dresses at cheaper prices.
They are always up to date with the current fashion trends making them the people’s choice. Their clothes are cheaper and affordable to many people, which puts local designers in a tight corner, as their clients would prefer buying a readily made dress than having to buy a cloth and sew a particular dress.
This has forced some of the local designers to close shop while others opted to lower their charges to compete with the Chinese shops.