Spring collection by Mel- G Designs
Fashion goes with seasons and it is the style of clothing that completes a dressing code. This is emphasized by Founder of Mel- G Designs, Malebogo Rebbo Diboko, a self taught fashion designer who specializes in couture and ladies wear. In her world of fashion, style matters the most and she explains that in order to achieve a certain style of clothing or a pattern, a designer needs to scrutinize one’s shape and body size. “Everyone can look daring in an outfit, for as long as it was customized for them, “she says. Diboko is a Finance officer by profession but she says she looks forward to making a mark within the fashion industry and convince everyone that, a cut of clothing matters the most when it is designed to suit a certain body type.
“I have always been a finance person from school, but always wanted to dress appropriately; little did I know that I had a calling for designing too. This is why I want to be remembered within the industry for advocating for smart dressing,”
Diboko says. She tells BG Style that it seems designing has always been her passion and where God wanted her to be, looking at the fact that she loved looking good from a young age.” I loved shopping and I enjoyed and loved seeing people looking beautiful in those fashionable outfits until in 2018 when I decided to try designing my first outfit. God directed me because every time I got into a shop trying to buy clothes I would realise that I could actually design them, then I finally decided to buy a domestic machine, to start, “she shares. She highlights that, she bought the cheapest fabric for a start and made a dress for herself and people loved it; then in 2019 colleagues and friends started placing orders and since then she never looked back. People kept coming, and MelG has grown to become one of the phenomenal house brands, she says. “Our couture has therefore been immensely growing ever since and in 2021 and 2022, we have been making waves on social media platforms, such that I have received messages from a lot of South Africans requesting me to design for them thinking that I’m based in South Africa,” she says . MelG has so far featured in brands such as Shweshwe dresses, Tswanafied fashion blog and the African amazing wedding as well as showcasing at the new Gabs July fashion show which was directed by Thabang Mmolotsi.
Diboko is forever grateful for this opportunity as she says it was the first time for her to showcase on such a platform. “It was such an honor and also an exciting experience to showcase along the fashion icon, David Tlale. The show was helpful in terms of exposure because a lot of people now know about MelG, and more customers are placing orders and we are as well having more followers on social media,” Diboko notes, emphasizing that a lot of people embraced her collections at the show. The content Diboko tells BG Style that she has coincidentally showcased with the one international fashion designer she looks up to, David Tlale and this has really fulfilled one of her dreams. Getting an applause from him regarding her work has even given her the confidence to believe that her work is unique, she says.
“I recently realised and got feedback from people that my clothes are different and so I believe this sets me apart from other local fashion designers,” she explains. Diboko has an exciting spring photoshoot session on her spring collection to share with the world. She is happy about the feedback she receives so far and looks forward to creating jobs as she believes so much in her work.
“Locally, I look up to myself already, as I’m inspired by the passion I have for fashion, my creativity and determination, while internationally, David Tlale has been my inspiration. I am inspired by his hard work, as he even prints his own fabrics. I like the way he mentors young designers to build businesses out of their craft, so I want to bring this change to Botswana too,” Diboko tells BG Style. She promises to bring stylish designs out of this world, for this spring season.