By Matšeliso Phulane
In celebration of 200 years of the Basotho Nation, local design and fashion house Elegance Couture will host a fashion show aimed at showcasing Basotho attire, by blending culture with a touch of modernity and glamour.
The event will be held at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre on March, 23 2024 from 6pm until late.
Established in 2015, Elegance Couture designs and manufactures fashionable clothes, both modern and cultural attires. These include African traditional ‘seshoeshoe’ dresses, formal attires, evening dresses, suits, and many more according to clients’ specific requirements.
In an interview with theReporter this week, the founder of Elegance Couture ‘Makeitumetse Ramphalla said this is the second time they are hosting the fashion show after the first one in May 2023 which marked the launch of the brand.
“This year since we are celebrating 200 years as Basotho, we will be showcasing the journey we have travelled in the 200 years of our existence.
“Our models will be walking on the ramp wearing ‘lithethana’ (beaded waist wraps worn by girls, that cover the waist, particularly the crotch area) and changing to ‘lishoeshoe’ and evening dresses,” Ramphalla said.
She indicated that they have invited embassies based in the country (South Africa, Botswana, United States and others) to the fashion show, so they can bring along their own cultural attires to be showcased by the models, as a way of contributing to the event.
She said in the past there was only one simple and straight forward traditional design which did not require any additional or fancy designs.
However, now there is a new fashion evolving which requires new ways of doing things.
“A fashion designer has to be flexible and be innovative in the fashion trends every year; whether people want to be naked or not, just be flexible and adaptive to what they need now.
“However, that has contributed a lot in fashion designing because now you cannot distinguish between a Mosotho and an American by the attire they are wearing because fashion designs complement each other globally,” she added.
The designer is pleased with the feedback from Basotho, as one satisfied client brings more, thereby contributing to the growth of her business.
“For now, I would say I am satisfied with my work. It’s good and I am striving to ensure that it keeps growing. Elegance Couture now has more than 2,100 followers on our Facebook page and that says we are really working hard,” Ramphalla said.
General tickets are available for M 70 and VIP tickets for M 200. For more information, people can contact Ramphalla at +266 58524642
