Koketso Chiepe is pleased to announce that preparations are
well on their way for the second edition of her annual fashion event, Gaborone
Fashion Weekend GFW. The fashion event was introduced last year as a fashion
night to much critical acclaim from fashion lovers and media, both locally and
internationally. Riding on last year’s massive success, this year’s event
promises to be even greater.
This year’s event boasts a larger venue to accommodate GFW’s
expanded programme of events. GFW 2012 will be held at Boipuso Hall on August
10th and 11th , ticket sales will be ranging from P300
regular, P600 VIP and P50 for the exhibition. Work has already begun in earnest
as the designers have completed the conceptualization stage under the careful
scrutiny of Chiepe herself. She is currently in the preparation stages of the
show and these consultations are major part of what to achieve with the event,
the development of local talent. She revealed, I “have an understanding of the
international market and know what it takes to put this kind of show together,
but the objective is to be able to get a lot of local designers at some point,
exporting their work to major retailers outside the country. The celebrities
and international Media are so important as they are the ones that help push
the celebrities.”
An integral part of GFW will be the exhibitor’s hall. The
overall theme is centred on a virtual Gaborone city where stalls are divided
according to major streets in the city’s capital. Each street will represent a
different component of the country’s fashion industry. For example one street
will be for major designers, one for retailers, and another for emerging
designers and so on.
The rest of the hall will host an “open park” theme where a
fashion show will be held every two hours on the afternoons of the 10th
and 11th. The objective of GFW is to jumpstart the industry by
encouraging exhibitors to actually sell items and afford those designers who
will be showcasing at the major shows, an opportunity to showcase the public at
large. Attendance by the public to the exhibition is expected at a minimum of
600 people per day.
The face of this year’s GFW is none other than our own
international superstar Emma Wareus, Miss World 2010 second princess. She will
be walking the runway alongside international super models Sessile Lopez, and
Tyson Beckford. Also joining them are Quincy Combs artist, model, actor and
step son of hip hop mogul P-Diddy and many exciting surprise international
acts.
A representative from River Island, a top UK Retailer will
be on hand to mentor and give workshops to the designers about Marketing Brands
internationally and how to create Collections for the mass market and
developing relations with Retailers. This year, talented Botho Chalebgwa of
Botocy will be show casing as she did last year and will be joined by new
comers Aobakwe Molosiwa of Gilded Sands, Fatima Mekgwe of MTK Brands, Mummy
Molapo of Spruce, Lebo Merafhe of Di –
Monde Reign, Lesly Mmokele of Les Wear, Quincy Moloi of House of Patrick, Tania
Charakupa of Rohoraha and jewelery designers, Sino Ragontse and Buhle Mguni
Tswana Lyric who are all very excited to be part of this international event.
International media such as CNN Africa Voices, Top Billing,
Studio 53 Extra and so on have accepted invitation to film these event.
For further details on these event kindly contact Tebatso at
the marketing department of News Company Botswana on 3912833. Stay Stylish Stay True to Fashion ♥
