QUEEN OF QUEENS: Dibeela’s winning gown for third Miss Botswana
The crowning of Miss Botswana 2022/23 Lesego Chombo was a show stopping affair and as usual, the fashion gowns attracted attention. The woman of the night wore a dress made by Thabiso Dibeela of Thabi D.
“I can spot a beauty queen when I see one and I could tell that the young lady has what it takes to be Miss Botswana,” Dibeela said. Dibeela made the dress Chombo was crowned in and as if by some prophetic spirit, her intuition was correct as the 24-year-old attorney clinched the crown!
It is a great feat for her as this is the third Miss Botswana to clinch the coveted crown wearing a dress from Thabie D. She also designed and made the winning garments for Seneo Mabengano and Oweditswe Phirinyane, Miss Botswana 2016 and 2019 respectively.
Dibeela said that there is a demand for high-end and avant-garde designs because they are customised and pay attention to detail. Many people often complain that local fashion designers are expensive but if you appreciate good quality and craft, it is worth it to have at least one local design in your wardrobe.
She said that local designers’ prices are steep because material is expensive and also when you buy from a fashion designer you are not only paying for the labour but also the branding.
“Locally, cost of production is high because we often source material from outside the country. Thankfully Government now offers a subsidy on raw material in certain instances which helps to keep fashion designers and those in the textile industry motivated,” she said.
Dibeela added that the problem in Botswana is that one cannot sustain themselves on a niche market but it’s also pricey to invest in CMT (Cut, Make & Trim), a mass production factory system, and most local designers depend on operating on an order basis to cut costs and keep afloat financially.
The fashion and textile industry is a creator and provider of meaningful employment; an industry encapsulating multiple vertical sectors and business skills, from manufacturing to retail, marketing to design. The industry is Africa’s second-largest post-agricultural sector, with its market value worth $31billion by 2020.
According to data from Euromonitor International, the combined apparel and footwear market in Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be worth well over US$31billion, with total fashion industry sales estimated to surpass 2019 levels by three to eight percent,
according to the ‘State of Fashion 2022 report’ by McKinsey & Company. Dibeela expressed optimism that the African fashion industry has great economic prospects. “The retail industry is growing and locals are taking part in this growth and expansion. We are also seeing locals piloting fashion projects and stores. Also, Government has made stipulations that uniforms sector is for locals only.” There are many opportunities for collaborations between Africans and Europeans not only in fashion design but also production. “There is demand for African skills and labour - the world is looking for our talent, time and skills. Europe and America are turning to Africa because we have the labour and they can fund the raw material, and the currencies - Euro and Dollar, are very strong!”
Dibeela expressed excitement at the African Renaissance sweeping across the world as more people want to embrace creations from the “Motherland,”.
“The likes of Beyonce and Rihanna are embracing African fashion trends and playing an active role in the African Renaissance so it’s a great time to be African because the world is finally recognising and appreciating us!”