Bataung Moeketsi

THE Fabric Era on Wednesday released the third episode of Thrift and Culture, a web-series intended to build cultural bridges through fashion and expose Basotho to stylish pieces available in Maseru’s flea markets on YouTube.

The show is a fashion magazine that explores art through conversation, styling and urban culture as seen by a Mosotho artist.

The Fabric Era comprises of three male models namely; Thoko Phooko, Nathane Makhalanyane and Mpho Monare, who respectively play the roles of marketing strategist, collaboration curator and head of administration.

The show began airing last August and has seen the three interview artistes and take them to the streets of Maseru where they then thrift, an activity which involves finding intriguing items at low prices from thrift stores, flea markets or garage sales.

On the latest episode, founder and designer of the OH BOY clothing line Refuoehape Tšosane sat with Makhalanyane to uncover his journey balancing school, business and designing.

Tšosane said his designs are inspired by his feelings adding that his brand had grown since its 2013 inception.

“I have grown and I have learnt a lot,” Tšosane said.

“We started off printing shirts and now we are going into some deeper things,” he said.

Before the video ends, the two make their way through the Maseru market area to find clothing items that they like before presenting what they have purchased to the viewers.

In past episodes, the viewers have hailed the authenticity of the content and the concept.

Monare described The Fabric Era as a “collective of multidisciplinary creatives who use fabric as their main source of expression”.

He added that they hope to bring about positive social change through their love for fashion.

“We intend to educate and influence the way in which Basotho adhere to art mediums. We do this hope using fashion, photography and videography as some of the vehicles and we eventually hope to also produce solid cultural bridges through cross boarder collaborations,” Monare said.

In two years, The Fabric Era has featured in South African magazines, Blacknation and Iqhawe and have styled the likes of American MC and poet Akua Naru and Lesotho’s own Juvy. They have collaborated with brands such as Bonono and Nobodies and also hosted a fashion exhibition at the Maseru Fashion Week and starred in Tšepiso Mahase’s MOTH short-film.

In the long-run, Monare said they hope to venture into retail and engage in collaborations that will lead to them working with big corporates.