DIVARI FOR DIVA

Owner of Divari brand wear, Dintle Pardo Ntshonono has said they are about to open a boutique shop for their smart casual wear, which she associates with elegance and style. She has already registered the brand with CIPA sometime early this year and tells BG Style that their existence is beyond just dressing up, but also to try and groom a girl child, and victims of GBV, in particular, through their other project, dubbed ‘ Home of Angels’. Ntshonono says her brand is actually a combination of two words: Diva, a female hustler and Vari, a street word meaning the truth. “Divari simply means, I am a diva, I’m strong, powerful and slaying,” she says, reiterating that all she wanted was to be a fashionable boutique that also goes all out to take social responsibility by addressing societal issues. She is of the view that fashion is the easiest way of attracting people, While also informing them at the same time. “Divari brand aims at empowering people and giving them hope and comfort,” she says, reiterating that everyone associates well with fashion. Most of her merchandise is produced lo- cally, and ranges from biker shorts, windbreakers, vests, tracksuits and t- shirts. Although she started with an aim of dressing up the corporate especially for their fun activities, with her gym line of clothing, she says the brand now targets everyone. “It’s an ideal brand especially as travel wear or gym wear for ladies, as we prioritize comfort,” she says. She operates under the slogan: ‘ Strong, Powerful, Slaying’. The Otse born fashionista is humbled by the feedback she receives so far.

“I already get positive feedback from my customers, and they applaud the fact that, almost all my merchandise is produced locally,” she says. She pleads with the Government and the private sector to invest in creative arts as the industry has got a lot to unfold. “The local fashion industry is very broad and could possibly help boost the country’s economy, as the locally made fashion products qualify to be exported within the region and even overseas,” she says, highlighting that the fashion industry grows everyday and for the better in Botswana. She also dreams of taking the Divari Lifestyle brand t o the world through her social media marketing platforms, including Facebook. Ntshonono encourages other fashion designers and those within the fashion industry space to take branding seriously and aim at distributing their products globally.