Born in Moleplole, Gokganwang is the founder and director of GuD! Footwear Incorporation, a local shoe manufacturing company that specialises in the production of ladies' and men’s sandals. She says she plans to expand and produce other types of shoes in the near future. In an interview with Arts&Culture, she said she started shoe manufacturing in early 2023 after completing a two-month shoe-making course. Her first sales were in October 2023 after she was selected to exhibit at the Makgabaneng International Arts Festival.
On Monday, Gokganwang won the first position at the National Arts Festival competition for the South-East region under the leather category. She said whenever she tells people that she makes shoes, they are always amazed if there is a Motswana who is into shoe making, saying one of the areas that surprises them the most is that it is a lady doing it. She added that Batswana are supportive of her business. She said sandal sales have been soaring since day one. “I registered for the National Arts Festival 2024 competitions in February. It was my first time participating in this competition. When I was announced as a winner, I felt positive and excited to have a new challenge of making two artworks for the competition. I had to go an extra mile and stretch myself beyond my comfort zone of making simple sandals and I decided to do the designs that I have never done before because the aim was to be the best and win. "I had to spend sleepless nights making both artworks and at some point, I had to re-do the artworks multiple times. So being announced as the winner was just a result of the hard work that I have invested in making the shoes,” Gokganwang stated.
