To start of our, Get to know Fashion Creatives in Botswana series, we have our favorite, Gape, mostly referred to as GeeGee Straus.
1. Tell us about yourself?
Although having to have been born “Gape Aubrey Khudu” it was in the late stages of my teen years when I started out in the modelling industry that I decided to go with the name GeeGee Straus as a way of separating my personal and professional lives.
2. Congratulation on having your first Model Master Class. Tell us about why a model master class and did it meet your expectations?
I’ve worked with Empire Model Management for two consecutive years for their model scouting seasons and I couldn’t help but notice how little knowledge and skill needed by models was brought forth by the aspiring models so I started these classes as a way of bridging that gap. I want aspiring models to show up at auditions well equipped because it’s a hard cold world out there and the industry needs well equipped individuals both knowledge and skill wise. Because this was my first modelling class ever, I was happy with the response and attendance although I had a bit of a problem because all the attendants were females, therefore, it was a bit disappointing that no aspiring male models came through. But despite that I was truly happy about how the class unfolded.
3. Moreover tell us your future plans with the model master class and other future plans you have for the fashion industry?
I'm really not one to share my future plans but I can promise that there's only one way and it is going up. All i can tell you is that i'm coming for everything, and yes i'll still be offering classes on a regular basis from here on.
4. Tell us about #Boysinskirts what future plans do you have with this powerful movement?
#BoysInSkirts has been on a pause for some time now, there's something that I'm working in that required to be set up only for a specific time, i'm only hoping that when it's ready to be revealed, people will be able to relate and understand the art behind it all.
5. Do you think the lack of collaborative efforts between people in the fashion industry is what is stifling its potential? Moreover what challenges can you identify that are preventing the fashion industry in Botswana to flourish?
Yes it really does, I'm one person who is very much into collaborating, it's one way that we can help each other grow as individual brands and the industry as a collective but because we all want to shine and be at the top, it becomes difficult for people to collaborate because people don't want to share the "spotlight" and its sad because its seemingly slowing down the industry.
6. Not to only focus on problems, what can you identify are strong points that could change the state of Botswana’s Fashion industry?
I think what we need is recognition of real fashion heads, people who can really take the fashion industry forth and not people who take fashion as any other hobby. If this can happen then we'll be on the right track to a great strong industry.
7. The Fashion industry in Botswana is still seen as a hobby in Botswana and not a business venture moreover not a sector that could contribute to the economy of Botswana, what reason could this be, and secondly how can we move from this outlook to the fashion industry in Botswana being taken commercially serious.
It's simple really, we need stake holders to invest in our designers, I believe we have brilliant designers in the country, for example, Artcappella, these designers are prominent and their work can compete on an international level. another thing is we need the right help from the ministry to fund fashion shows for designers to showcase their work, what we have now is not enough. another thing is that designers also need think beyond just making clothing for personal clients. They need to also go out there and propose their lines to retail shops so they can ahead in business.
8. Is there any last words you can give to people who will be reading this interview? (This is an open ended question that leaves you to make any opinion on the fashion industry or on you)
I urge creatives to live for their work, hype changes with time, from one person to the next, be your work and let your work be you. Aim to outdo yourself with every project because consistency is important, trust your creative mind and craziness like you've never done before, in this way your work will be nothing but great.
Contact:
geegeestraus@gmail.com
@geegee_straus on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat
We hope you enjoyed this Get to know GeeGee interview as much as we did. Comment below on who next would you like to know about!!!
