Afro Chic
designer makes
his mark
DT’s fashion has clients from various areas of
the district including Postmasburg, Kathu and many areas.
By: Onalenna Jantjie 
After obtaining a second position at the local fashion show competition which was held during a prestigious women’s event in August 2016, Ditebogo Osenkeng’s business is blossoming! “The fashion show gave me the exposure I needed,” he said adding that fashion shows are a rarity in small towns like Kuruman. “We hardly ever have fashion shows in Kuruman so when an opportunity like this one presented itself I had no choice but to grab it with both hands,” he explains. Schooled at Gamohana high school in Maruping village, Ditebogo only discovered his passion and talent after he completed matric in 2007. Prior to that he only dreamed of getting an office job and providing for his family.
Little did he know that he would one day
find himself in a creative field.
“After I completed matric I headed to Rustenburg to seek employment. For
the first time ever I was in a community that was inclined to dressing up as
opposed to dressing down,” he said while adding that the beautiful clothes and
unique way of mixing colours just left him mesmerized.
Unable to secure
a job in Rustenburg, Ditebogo headed for Johannesburg. During his short stay in
Johannesburg he realized that fashion designing was not only a creative
industry but also a lucrative business. He returned to Maruping no longer
seeking to get a job but seeking to explore his passion and fascination with
fashion designing.
“When I started I did not know anything about
designing clothes but it’s been a very interesting journey for me as it has enabled me to
explore my creativity which is something that I was partly aware of,” he
said.
He then started associating himself with the
guys from Osebata fashion label (Ice and George) who are regarded as Kuruman’s
fashion experts to learn various skills that would equip him to run a
successful fashion design label. “I am a
self taught designer but I give credit to Ice and George for teaching me how to
make trousers,” he confessed. After a
couple of training sessions with the Osebata guys Ditebogo says he felt
confident enough to stand on his own two feet. He registered his business in
2010. And after almost two years of existence he has been able to carve a niche
for himself as a successful afro chic designer. “Even though competition is
very tough in Maruping and Batlharos I have lots of customers many of whom come
from Kathu and Postmasburg,” said Ditebogo.
In closing, Ditebogo said; Northern Cape Province and Kuruman in
particular has brilliant fashion designers. The corporate sector and the government
need to really consider putting money into this industry as it would help to
create employment for the majority of the youth.”
For more information on DT’s
fashion contact
Ditebogo on: 082 0833 337
