Art inspires fashion designer
Makuku of Lami designs considers fashion therapeutic
Masego Makuku of LaMi Designs believes that fashion is a way of expressing oneself and and she elaborates this through her work of women wear, in particular.
She is of the view that fashion should not be all about trends but how one wants to look like, with the confidence from wearing something unique. The Limkokwing University of Creatives Technology graduate tells this publication that, she did not coincidently choose fashion, but has always been determined to operate into the fashion space, one day. “My love for fashion actually started with drawing non- figure drawings from quiet a young age. I would draw these pictures and give them a colourful look, which I believe has entirely set my mind to the fashion industry,” she says. Makuku also adds that the fact that she is from an artistic family has also inspired her to choose a career path within the fashion industry.
She tells BG Style that when she had to enrol for a university course, she had already made up her mind that she was going to study Clothing and Textiles, to enhance her skills and also contribute to the industry.
“It was a short three years of learning for me, because I was just excited to be finally studying towards my career path, and couldn’t wait to finally practice,” she says. She adds that in the era where there is shortage of jobs in Botswana, all she ever wanted was to have her own working space and do what she loves; she is thankful to Limkokwing University for giving her an opportunity to sharpen her skills of becoming an esteemed fashion designer. She is currently based in Mmopane Block 1 and says she is happy about the feedback she receives, as people always come back and even recommend new clients to work with her. Makuku says that, fashion has a healing touch on its own, because people always feel good, when they look good, and so she is excited to be part of that therapeutic element during the pandemic. “I have noticed that most of the clients are always happy about getting new clothes, and especially designs made just for them. This is one of those factors that keep us going as fashion designers during these trying times of the pandemic,” she says.
The chic fashion designer is an all- rounder in terms of women wear, but she says lately, she has developed more interest in wedding wear because since the era of the pandemic, there has been so many weddings and she has been forced to be more creative on this space. Besides, she also does décor during her spare time, and this compliments her love for wedding wear. The bubbly Makuku keeps reiterating that: “Fashion is a way of me communicating to the world,” and she is simply doing what she loves. She adds that the fashion industry in Botswana has really grown and the fact that there are fabric shops locally helps them as fashion designers to be able to think outside the box and meet the international standards too. “When one talked about fashion designing in Botswana in the past, we all knew that it was all ‘ leteisi’ material only, but here we are, we do not have to always order clothes from abroad because we have different fabric stores locally, and the local fashion designers are equally good in what they do,” says Makuku.
Although she focuses on women wear only currently, Makuku looks forward to enrolling for a short course to be able to make clothes for men too. She says locally, she is inspired by Tumisang of Ritac and Blondie among other fashion designers. Presently, she works with Lebogang Setshedi and Tracy Itomeng, and she is forever thankful to her artistic family, including her partner, who have always believed in her dream.
In the future, she hopes to have her own operating space as well as employ more graduates to influence growth within the fashion industry