Protea Hotel hosted The Protea Fashion Market on the 25th October 2020, to show dedication and commitment to the creative and fashion industry, following the cancellation of the annual fashion show due to COVID-19. The fashion experience saw leading local fashion designers showcase their designs at a day market free to the general public.
“As a leading business-first hotel in Botswana, we are invested in the development of the community we reside in. We are thrilled to provide a platform for local fashion entrepreneurs to not only showcase their talents during what has been rather difficult times but further market their businesses to potential clientele. We have held our annual fashion show for years now and The Fashion Market series is yet another demonstration of our commitment toward helping drive the development of sustainable ecosystems that uplift the fashion industry of Botswana. The event will be open to the general public from 11h00 to 18h00 and will follow the strictest COVID-19 health protocols,”said Protea Hotel Marketing Manager, Botho Mogami.
Through such initiatives the Hotel hopes to further engage with local creative talents despite the challenges brought about by the impending coronavirus pandemic, as they reaffirm their responsibility to extend themselves beyond just a hospitality business but a key partner to the creative industry of Botswana. They achieve this by adding value, providing exposure, information and their expertise to the communities they serve to foster an environment that facilitates their growth and success. The Fashion Market featured ready to wear designs from designers including but not limited to; Thabiso Dibeela, Lebo Merafhe, Dihdah, Butterfly, African Wax Printsbw and a new children fashion brand called Tum Tummy.
“Despite the challenges, we have remained committed to the fashion entrepreneurs because we believe the creative industry has an important role to play in local economies and the ongoing growth of tourism in Botswana. The Fashion Market expands on what we seek to do with the fashion show – to develop local entrepreneurship capacity by bridging the gap between those with experience and those seeking it. It is our hope that through such an engaging platform we can encourage local entrepreneurship and expose talented Botswana entrepreneurs, producers and visionaries ,”Mogami said.