By Matṧeliso Phulane
Lesotho Fashion Week (LFW) Coordinator, Lineo Seboholi, says there is need to create fashion out of garbage clothing that ends up burnt or dumped.
Seboholi said this at a runway show that was held at a local hotel on Wednesday this week.
The show was themed “Off Cut”. It consisted of 10 models wearing looks created using unconventional recycled materials.
The event’s aim was to create fashion with a conscience, as well as highlight on the elegance, beauty and evolution of the Basotho culture.
The ‘Off Cut’ show is a sustainable fashion initiative aimed at encouraging local fashion designers to create collections using fabrics derived from eco-friendly resource, such as sustainably grown fibre crops or recycled materials.
Seboholi noted that the clothing and textile industry is the second largest polluter of water, after agriculture.The negative ecological effects of the fashion industry are numerous and, in an effort to address them, many designers are going green.
“In line with international trends and best practices, Lesotho Fashion Week together with the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) has a fashion show for sustainable fashion.
“Five local fashion designers were challenged to each create two bespoke looks (male and female) with pieces of waste material left over from large chunks of denim and leather sourced from the local manufacturers that receive support from LNDC,” she explained.
The showcasing designers were: Monozukuri, Africa Rose, Tailored by Daniel, Mary Anna Fashion House and Jonkomane Denim.
LSFW is the only high-profile business to business marketing platform for fashion, footwear, accessory and jewellery in Lesotho by acting as the optimal platform for a designer to start, develop and grow their business from.
LSFW promotes and showcases designers to the media, retail buyers and their clients in Africa and internationally. The show is held biannually, first in April or May for three days, showcasing the Spring or Summer women wear collections; and six months later in October or November, again for three days, showcasing the Autumn or Winter womens’ wear collections.
