Bataung Moeketsi
THE search is underway for a model to become the Lesotho Fashion Week (LSFW) for the next one year.
The LSFW told the Xpress People recently that the competition is open to Basotho who are 18 years and above. The applicants are expected to submit a one-minute introductory video of themselves stating why they deserve to be selected.
The videos will be accompanied by the model’s Z-card (a marketing portfolio for models). These, and a bust shot of the applicant, must be sent to the LSFW’s head of production Thato Fonya by 30 April 2020.
Public voting will be done online on 1 May while the winner will be announced on 1 June.
The winner will get a paid for photo and video shoot, placement for campaigns and on the LSFW runway and a fully paid for look book. The winner will also get the services of a public relations manager for the one year that they will be contracted.
Fonya said the face of the LSFW is integral to the planning of the event and its publicity.
“The face of the LSFW will take part in all our local and international campaigns including television adverts, magazine photoshoots, working with our sponsors and shooting various videos for our social media platforms as part of our 2020 promotions,” Fonya said.
“In addition, the winner will secure a place on our model casting judging panel, which takes place twice a year. They will also earn a spot in two seasons of the LSFA.”
Apart from the search for the inaugural face of the fashion week, the LSFW is involved in two initiatives including a wool and mohair design contest aimed at ensuring that the fabric is processed locally.
The contest will also give two young creatives an opportunity to partake in the next season LSFW. The second initiative involves the launch of The Fashion Business, a weekly audio podcast starting on 1 May 2020.
LSFW is a business to business marketing platform for fashion, footwear, accessories and jewellery in Lesotho which also hosts bi-annual presentations of its women’s and men’s collections. Designers are also afforded the opportunity to wholesale their pieces to local and international boutiques and online stores at a trade show which runs concurrently with the presentations.
This year’s LSFW was initially set to run from 17 to 19 April at The Anne Guesthouse in Maseru but was last month suspended indefinitely due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Founder of the fashion week, Mahadi Granier, said they were expecting both local and international guests and fashion designers at the event hence it was prudent to suspend the event as a precaution.
“With an expected large attendance of international guests, we believe we have a responsibility to take the necessary precautions that prioritise the health and safety of our designers, our guests and nation as whole,” Granier said last month.