Whether one calls it Leteisi or Seshweshwe print, it is undeniable that is it a unique print that cuts out lavish outfits of all sorts. The combination of the traditional look embodied with modernization has kept the print in high demand.
This print alongside beads and other crafts has over the years kept not only Botswana culture intact but uplifted its fashion market as well. Leteisi has created a phenomenon lifestyle of fashion among the people of Botswana and even created lifetime jobs.
With fashion constantly changing, leteisi has sure been flexible with the times to remain relevant and proving why it is a traditional print for the diamond country. Whether worn down as a simple reap around skirt with sandals and a t-shirt with beads or taken a bit higher with a touch of modesty you can surely never go with this print worn at any outing.
As amazing and versatile as it may be, Botswana’s fashion and creative arts has over time failed to penetrate the market outside its borders. It has only been limited and enjoyed by the locals and those associated to the Setswana culture.
For this reason, when people were drooling over this print a year ago at the Tanzanian fashion week, Kootshepile Motseonageng better known as Berry Heart had an epiphany. She knew then she had to share Botswana’s fashion with the rest of world.
“Last year when I was awarded African designer of the year in Tanzania at the Swahili Fashion Week, I had a German print ‘leteisi’ on. People could not stop asking about the print and they wanted to explore more of it as they were clueless about Botswana fashion including the print,” she explains.
“I gave them a list of Batswana designers who they can learn more from regarding fashion in the country. When this was happening, I saw the gap between Botswana fashion and that of the rest of the world. That is how Dhaa Botswana came into being,” says Berry Heart.
Through Dhaa Botswana, she expects to deliver a ground-breaking, transformative annual event aimed at spotlighting and safeguarding Botswana’s traditional arts, crafts and culture. This breath-taking event will bring emphasis on sustainability, exposure, investment opportunities, tourism, cross-sector engagement, upskilling, employment generation and national pride.
This first of its kind international fashion and craft event is a collaboration between experienced creatives from Botswana and the United Kingdoms as well as the Government of Botswana. Dhaa Botswana, a Shekgalagari word meaning ‘Come to Botswana’ of ‘Visit Botswana’ is alluring enough to capture the mind of anyone outside the boarders of Botswana.
Dhaa Botswana will celebrate Pan-Africanism, inviting designers and artisans from across Africa and African Diaspora, demonstrating Africa’s global leadership in resources, sustainability, innovation, designs, community and heritage preservation.
The event will take place in Kasane from the 24th – 26th November 2023, with an expectation of high velocity fashion showcases featuring top local and international fashion designers, exhibitions and first-class cultural entertainment.
“Dhaa Botswana stands mainly as an exposure of the fashion and crafting culture in the mother land and we are ready to open doors to let in Africans and the rest of world to explore and enjoy what Botswana has to offer. We want Botswana creatives to collaborate with international creatives to grow and share different knowledge in the space of fashion and crafts,” Berry Heart explains.
Even though the main focus of the event is fashion, organisers have added arts and craft and tourism to the package of Dhaa Botswana as these elements compliment the fashion trend of the country. Thus, she says, ‘the name of the event had to allow those wishing to be part of the show to travel first in their minds and be captivated by their imagination of what to expect from the Diamond nation.’
For this reason, organisers of the event boast an impressive portfolio and decades of experience between them, a shared sense of purpose and uncompromising championing of Africa and African Pride. Among those working with Berr Heart for this event are Ikanyeng Molemele and Michael Burgess.
Molemele is a highly accomplished consultant in financial services and information and communication technology based between London and Botswana. Some of her clients include the European Bank of Reconstruction Development, Botswana National Development Bank, Vodafone, British Telecom, Abaricom Botswana, to name a few.
Burgess was previously a senior diplomat. She is the programme and business development lead, event producer and advisor for key Africa focused organisations in the UK and Europe including Africa Fashion Week London and Nigeria, the Africa Centre, the Royal African Society, Tate Museums, Albert Museum, the Africa in London Committee, just to name but a few.
“Guided by the unique needs of Botswana and its creative industry and spurred by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Dhaa Botswana is shifting the spotlight on Botswana and seeing the country as a viable culture and creative capital in Africa with an impressive history of resilience, leadership and unending potential. Come and explore experience and enjoy the best of Botswana fashion and crafts,” Berry Heart concludes.
