BW TRIO SHOWCASE AT AWF FASHION

Moji told media that she valued her participation in the event and admired AFI’s 15 years commitment to promoting African talent.

Moji said that being in midst of the AFI founder and executive chairperson, Precious Moloi-Motsepe, delighted her considering the opportunity she availed to young African designers. “It has always been my dream to showcase at AFI even though I have cat walked internationally and the African region, the AFI experience to me tops them all,” she said.

Moji made headlines in 2007 when she brought home the third annual Redd’s African Fashion Design Award and since then her name has been making the list in fashion shows.

Merafhe, who presented solid collections of cotton pieces at the fashion show, said being affiliated with AFI was an enriching experience and enjoyed how AFI accommodated and embraced their ideas while affording them the opportunity to network and share ideas with other African designers. “All the designers are talented, therefore mingling and sharing ideas and learning of how each operate in the African continent inspired us all as fashion designers. It was an informative week and fashion designers who participated are in different stages in their design journeys,” she said.

Merafhe further said that international exposure is important and Botswana designers should not fear to showcase their designs locally and around Africa.

“Creativity knows no boundaries, therefore if designers had fear to expose their craft their talents could die,” she added. The first day of the fashion show saw 10 Pan-African designers take to the runway, each presenting their sixlook collections that featured a variety of styles, including chic dresses, suiting, stylish separates, and trendy accessories. Then came the AFI Masterclass with bold print dresses, voluminous skirts and blouses, and luxurious fabrics such as silk, satin, linen, cotton, and velvet, which were showcased by the talented African designers.