CREATIVE GENIUS
HE is no stranger to the limelight, having burst onto the entertainment scene as a music producer and rapper back in the day. Now, his oratory skills seem to have taken a back seat as his design skills take the country by storm.
As one of the few locally-made quality clothing brands, BK Proctor’s footwear and apparel have become synonymous with class and style across the country.
This week The Voice’s SHARON MATHALA - in the last edition of the Big Interview for 2021 - sat down with the man behind the brand, Bokang Proctor, also known as BK Proctor, for him to provide insight into what actually happens behind the scenes.
For the few who have never heard of you, how would you introduce yourself in detail?
My name is Bokang Proctor. I am the founder and lead designer at Collections by Bk Proctor. Basically, my role has been - for the most part - to lead in the creation of all designs as well as being involved in all business dealings focused on the growth of our business.
Tell us more about your background.
I grew up in the city of Francistown. I have two younger sisters and one brother. I did my schooling from Standard 1 to 6 in Francistown then moved to Gaborone to finish my primary schooling, then I did my Form 1 to 5 in Gaborone. When I finished my schooling, I started my career in music and I have been at it since then to date. I have won multiple awards for Best Music Producer, Best Collaborations, Best Music Videos. I was the Brand Ambassador for SAMSUNG from 2014 to 2016. In 2018, I founded Collections by Bk Proctor.
Tell us about your music career?
Music is my calling, I must say. I grew up in Francistown around my uncles - Mike and George Proctor - who were the founders of the music group, Ghetto Flava. My interest in music began at a very early age. I used to watch them produce music and I just fell in love with the creative process. From there, I started making beats then that blossomed into making songs. In fact, I have produced and written albums for some of the best artists in the country, the likes of Vee Mampeezy, Eugene Jackson, T.H.A.B.O, The late Steez and Samantha Mogwe. During my career in music, I have collaborated and produced music for some of the best artists in the land, including Lister Boleseng, Culture Spears, Scar, Zeus, Brando, Kast, Mosako, K Bos, Veezo View and Ban T just to mention a few.
We hear less of you in music circles, have you hung up your mic?
Music is my first love and there is absolutely no way I would leave making music. I have been in the studio putting together something which will be out beginning of 2022, so lookout for new music and collaborations from Bk Proctor.
How was Collections by Bk Proctor birthed?
Collections by Bk Proctor is a lifestyle brand that specialises in footwear, apparel, and accessories. The brand was officially launched in August 2018 and currently has an active store at Oasis Motel Complex, Tlokweng, alongside a highly active online presence. We are a fashion-influenced brand that aims to bring to life high-quality masterpiece designs for the globally conscious consumer. Young and older professionals as well as anyone who resonates accordingly with the sneakers and any of our other products.
Take me through the process of coming up with your designs?
Over 90% of our brand footwear are designed to fit into different occasions and serve different needs:n non-binding designs, functional and fashionable designs. My passion for creativity and innovation eventually infused with my love for fashion and unique designs, and that was essentially the starting point which lead to the creation of this brand.
Transforming from being an Artist-producer who loves shoes, to now creating footwear and apparel was not a hard move per se, as the principles of creativity and creation between the two industries are somewhat similar. Setting up a business from scratch, of course, has its own challenges but I learnt and adapted to the growing demands for the success of the brand. This business means a lot to me, employees as well as our loyal clientele. Its impact has ignited the spirit of pride and celebration of our own local brands and products which will go a long way in having Batswana support more locally-owned businesses.
Is everything done locally?
We conceptualise and design all our products here in Botswana and manufacture across 14 factories in Asia.
A lot of entrepreneurs find it difficult to penetrate the market, how did you manage?
Our brand has managed to attract the right attention, genuine following and a large clientele all in a short period of time. That collective impact was a first and biggest highlight for us. We have a strategic plan which we follow, we have an amazing team working towards the growth of our business, we have created an environment where our team is driven by the desire to innovate and achieve. Our most recent and something launched this year is our collaboration with St. Louis Lager in making a St. Louis branded sneaker for their Jwa Rona Can Campaign.
Any plans of going international with the Collections by Bk Proctor brand?
Our brand aims to create meaningful and stylish lifestyle products for fashion-adventurous individuals who pride themselves on celebrating their individuality. And we believe this product adds to that lifetime goal. Our business is currently only focused on sustaining and feeding it’s current demand. We look forward to growing accordingly and hopefully thinking about exports when the time fits with our general strategic plan. We are looking to continue focusing more on our core product, footwear. We have a long list of footwear lines we have been sampling and preparing that we are looking to release late this year into next year. Sadly, I cannot share the details but all in all, yes, we have a few lines coming up which also include our first ever Setswana named sneaker.
Any plans of going countrywide and having other stores?
The feedback has been mostly positive, highly progressive and the demand for our products is overwhelming, so most definitely; we are opening our flagship stores in places near you soon. Our quality speaks for itself and its something we lead with in all our products to business dealings. The brand is currently available in Botswana with its first flagship store located at Oasis Motel Complex in Tlokweng. We have an online store, yes, www.collectionsbybkproctor.com.
Getting to know you better, what else keeps you busy?
Just work, I live in the future so I am forever designing for the future and conceptualising our ads campaigns for our products. So, besides handling our company business dealings, that’s what I do. I am creative, so I am forever creating.
Any special lady in your life?
Next question, PLEASE!
OK. Well, it was nice getting to talk to you. Any last words?
Thank you for the platform. Just a few to anyone aspiring to build a business; that they should try create unique business models if they truly want to succeed. The product alone, no matter how good it is, without a progressive business model, it may not reach its true potential.
TGIF, where will you be next week Friday?
I will be home with the family. To me, family is everything, so nothing beats being in the presence of your loved ones as you countdown to a new year.