LYPO COUTURE VALUES SPECIALISATION
LFlook in a certain way as he depended on shops and other fashion designers for wardrobe. “I am a very artistic
ypoh Couture does not
person, when I failed to get certain
only aim at making a
designs that I had in mind for my
statement into the fash
clients, I asked myself why I couldn’t
ion industry, but is fully ready
learn and do it. I learnt and suddenly
to encourage elegance and
started designing and sewing my
wholesale trading of locally
unique collection to put my signature
designed clothes.
out there than improvising,” he said. For the creative Director at Lypoh He is glad to share that with his Couture, Lucky Leepo, who is a Degree in Motion Picture Medium fashion designer and also a stylist, and an Excellency award in Producinnovation and being unique is the tion Design from AFDA University Pilates
only way to make one outstanding in of Arts, now AWIL College, he has the fashion industry. It is his creative gained even more experience on unmind- set that has led him into the derstanding fashion design industry fashion industry. He started as a stylfrom different angles. He does not
the
ist and makeup artist, but soon develbelieve in downloaded pictures for oped interest in fashion designing to a design by a client, but encourages complete his clients’ desired outlook. consultation first to check if the Very often, he says that he couldn’t pattern could be suitable for a client.
sedentary
find some of the outfits in the market Fashion designers should know their when he wished his clients could clients better, and be able to help them choose patterns that would suit as meeting clients wherever they are could be very important and benefit their personality. “Sometimes an to take their measurements. “I do this local fashion designers, but it looks outfit can clash with one’s personalto meet my clients half way, and it like most local fashion designers ity, which is why I encourage consulworks effectively for those who are do the same thing and depend on tation first, to even help the designer held up at work but need an outfit; similar events to make business. I not to end up adding so many unfor occasions instantly or just lazy to await just that one day, most of us necessary accessories to a design, just step out especially in this Covid- 19 could make thousands of blouses or to impress the client,” he said adding era,” he said. Leepo applauds the dresses and distribute them to differthat simplicity and clean designs look entire fashion industry, saying that ent shops and consequently sell it in much better. He caters for weddings, there are impressive locally made franchise shops across the continent parties, formal wear, school uniforms clothes by different designers. This or even the world,” he said, emphaand protective clothing including has somehow motivated people to sising that local fashion designers
Botswana Guardian
overalls, aprons and scrubs. Lypoh also respect events, as he often gets should stop limiting themselves. www. botswanaguardian. co. bw
June 15, 2018
Couture was actually set up in 2016, clients designing outfits for different He has also worked as a stylist and when it started it focused more events. “This generally shows growth for New Look Studio on the series on female clothing and later on within the industry and the fact that dubbed ‘ Lights off ’, which airs on added simple designs for men such as people trust the fashion designers to Now Tv and says that this opporshirts. However, they have now introdeliver adequately. They imitate their tunity has also opened his eyes to duced male suits and look forward to celebrities’ designs and request for be thorough in his work. “I have design more of male wear in the fusimilar outfits as an inspiration and also noted that there is not much of ture. Leepo tells BG Style that what fashion designers always deliver,” he stylists in Botswana, but it could be sets him apart is the fact that he is a said. However, his concern is that beneficial if fashion designers could door to door operator, and specialises specialization is still lacking amongst try to work with stylists or learn in delivering the end product as well fashion designers. “Specialization something about it too,” he said.