Look OUT: Gaborone Fashion Weekend 2012

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 10^th and 11^th , 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 10^th and 11^th. 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 ♥