By Cynthia Thanda

Want to improve your fashion taste and wondering how? Worry not and join the PanAfrikanist family as we share tips from Phatsimo Ranjo, a Mmadinare-born fashion designer.

Despite being born in Mmadinare, Phatsimo grew up in Gaborone and graduated from her fashion studies at the creatives arts school Limkokwing University in 2010.

By 2015 she had started her company called ‘Just Grip Creations’. She had one employee and two others for jobs. However, due to Covid-19, she works with all of them part-time since business has gone down.

Phatsimo believes fashion is a calling for her. She started with designing her childhood dolls. In spite of studying Accounting, Phatsimo followed her heart’s desires and enrolled in a fashion course.

In 2014 she dedicated two years to working and raising enough money to buy her machines for her start-up. Her designs are mostly custom based, except for clients who bring pictures of designs they would like to have duplicated for them.

Her company specialises in women’s wear, men’s wear for both casual and formal occasions.

“My company, Just Grip’s clientele has grown over the years and most are still loyal to the brand for over five years to date. In terms of the fashion industry in Botswana, it is still growing and yet to be understood.

“We have a lot of brands that have formed over the years. Individuals are beginning to want to be dressed with unique designs, the future is bright and we trust it will continue to grow”, Phatsimo said.

To keep up with the latest trends her inspiration comes from following big brands from Western countries and celebrities. She learns from her fellow designers as they often attend fashion shows and workshops together.

Her all-time role model is Valentino. She loves his designs and his story to stardom continues to water her passion to be where she is now.

Refilwe Tlhobogang has known Phatsimo for some time and liked the couple of designs she made for her.

“She is talented, creative and most importantly her sense of humour is great. Botho ba gagwe (her manners) have made me go back to her. I am one person who likes drama in fabric, not simple or obvious designs so with her creativity she has managed to fulfill my taste so well.

“I have seen her grow before Covid and just like any other business she was hit hard. But I believe she still has room to grow past Covid and she will be able to make more,” commented Refilwe.

Despite all that, Just Grip is no stranger to challenges and their vision is competing with foreign shops. When it comes to the seamstress, they compete with other nationals who undercharge.

Nonetheless, the company has the principles that help it to stand strong among the best brands as they dress personalities in a unique way.

Phatsimo has also participated in the President’s competition in 2017 and won First prize at the District level. In the same year, she won first prize in the Gender women expo at level 2 by the Ministry of Nationality and Gender Affairs and she also attended Black Gold Revolution fashion week in Lusaka, Zambia.

The following year she won first prize at Gender Woman expo level 3 and she attended Swakopmund fashion week in Namibia. She also attended Africa Fashion Alive in Soweto, South Africa as well as the Africa Women Designer week fashion show in Maputo, Mozambique in 2019.

2020 is the year she participated in Fashion without Borders Botswana and Just Grip Creations is now working on designing a web page for its ready-to-wear international market.

“I personally know Phatsimo and have known about her designs right from the first dress she made for her graduation day. Since then, she has been unstoppable. She made more than a few designs for me, for my own wedding, birthdays, and other events. She has a very unique taste and her work is undoubtedly neat,” another client, Batsholetsi Janken, said.

The PanAfrikanist also met with Miso who is one of Phatsimo’s first customers and a very loyal one. Her face lit up when she recalled meeting Phatsimo in 2015 when she arrived in Gaborone as a first-year student and they started with just a purmplum top.

“She was learning at the time but it came out perfect for a student. I think now she has done more than 20 outfits for me. I love working with her because she is a true designer.

“She knows me very well. I trust her hands and I could just tell her I have an event then she will definitely design for me from her own brain. I have never on any given day been disappointed by Phatsimo.

“Even the wedding that I recommended her, the bride and her bridesmaids were so happy with her work. She is very patient, has good customer service and she impresses clients. She would panel-beat until the design is just what and how I want it”, Miso said. Find Just Grip Creations in their Facebook Page @ Just Grip Creations and Instagram handle @PhatsimoRanjo