SPRING/AUTUMN COLLECTION

Thato Mokgadi, the young fashion designer from Botswana, has just unveiled the spring collection under her eponymous clothing line Thato@Whis.  The Gaborone-based talent created the new men’s and women’s ready-to-wear ranges keeping tradition defying people, who are not afraid of being themselves, in mind.  The silk light feminine line is a balanced mix of stylish and sophisticated looks, peppered with earthy African prints, while the male fashion collection, which includes versatile pieces that can be worn both to formal or informal occasions, is made using heavy warm fabrics with Afro touches. Held bi-annually, the Thato@Whis Fashion Show highlights forthcoming trends for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter seasons. The glitzy runway parades see the attendance of local celebrities, musical talents, media and consumers.  Before launching the clothing label Thato@Whis in 2002, the 38-year-old Mokgadi used to sell her designs through the popular retail chain Guys & Girls.