Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses

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Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses Biography

According to what I have observed from the weddings in Botswana, one thing is certain, a wedding cannot take place without first partaking in what is known as the patlo. The patlo is the ceremony where the bridal price ‘lobola’ is handed over or paid out to the bride’s family. Prior to the patlo, negotiations are carried out back and forth usually by the spouses aunts and uncles to determine the bridal price and how it shall be paid out at the patlo. The patlo is known as the traditional wedding, thus after the ceremony, the couple are known and can be referred to as married.

The bridal is paid out in the form of cattle or cash equivalent to the price of purchasing the requested number of cattle.

if the couple wishes, then and only then can they proceed to have what they call a ‘white or church wedding’ where the bride wears a white dress, and walks down the isle as is the custom of most weddings around the world. Food and drink are prepared for the reception.

People may marry according to customary property provisions or civil community property arrangements

The patlo is known as the traditional wedding, thus after the ceremony, the couple are known and 

can be referred to as married.The bridal is paid out in the form of cattle or cash equivalent to the price of purchasing the 

requested number of cattle.If the couple wishes, then and only then can they proceed to have what they call a ‘white or 

church wedding’ where the bride wears a white dress, and walks down the isle as is the custom of most weddings around

Botswana fashion and beauty best reflects the dual existence of tradition and modernization in Botswana.

Weddings in Botswana best depict this element in clothing fashion. It is common for the couple and troupe to change attire twice using different design patterns during the ceremony.

On first appearance, the couple and their troupe appear in European-style attire, but go on to change into attire that although may be modernized is largely traditional in design.

The Tswana traditional fashion has always borrowed from a mixture of both western and African countries' fashion cultures with fabrics and patterns. For instance, the German print fabric, felt fabric and African print fabrics stand out as popular features of Tswana fashion.

More other patterns that are borrowed from African fashion include, puffed sleeves, pleated volume bottoms in the female dresses and skirts, embroidery patterns on the outfits, hats, jackets, coats, trousers, shirts, and woven jerseys on male outfits

Traditional Botswana fashion

Fabrics
German print, known as Leteise in Tswana culture; African print fabrics; Felt fabric.
Patterns or clothing style
Female: Puffed sleeves (African countries influence, e.g. Ghana) with embroidery around the square bust; Dress silhouette was always pleated A-line shape (bottom); Skirt silhouette was always circular wrap-around shape; Below knee length dresses, traditionally in the older generation to cover the knees; Traditional Tukwi, a head wrap cloth to cover the head.

Male: Felt formal jacket and trench coats, known as Mohlangoma; Always a hat; Shirt; Sandals; Woven jersey
Familiar Botswana fashion patterns
The fashion market is generally divided into five categories, namely; commercial, classic, conservative, couture and contemporary fashion.
However, in Botswana there are only four categories which make up the whole fashion market of Botswana.
Commercial clothing
The clothes are mass produced and affordable with less emphasis placed on detail. This is the most popular fashion in Botswana which accounts for more than 50% of the fashion market in Botswana.
The clothes are sold in clothing retail shops.
- Casual ready to wear, day to day wear, e.g. demin jeans, tops, t-shirts - Casual sportswear, e.g. sneakers, tracksuits, sweaters - Street wear e.g. mixture of both casual sport wear and casual wear (familiar amongst students)

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses 

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses

 Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses

Tswana Traditional Wedding Dresses