Karishma showcases Namibian designs at Batho Fashion Week

Namibian fashion designer and musician Karishma recently represented the country at Batho Fashion Week in Botswana, where she unveiled her latest collection alongside fellow Namibian creative director Fillemon Hamukoto.

The event formed part of an exchange programme between MTC Windhoek Fashion Week and Batho Fashion Week, designed to promote African creativity across borders.

Organisers say the initiative aims to provide young designers with international exposure, encourage collaboration and foster cultural dialogue within the continent’s fashion industry.

Karishma, who began designing in 2018 and is also known for her music career, says showcasing abroad was an opportunity to expand her reach and learn from peers.

“To share my vision in Botswana and exchange ideas with other African creatives was an honour,” she says.

“I got to meet new creatives, learn from them and saw how events are organised there.

This will help me improve my own work back home.”

She presented pieces from her Delux of Our 2024 Highschool Collection, alongside new additions aimed mainly at younger audiences but designed for all age groups.

The collection explores the theme of individuality within unity.

“In my collection I used the same fabric, but the designs were different.

I wanted to bring out the message that although we are all the same, we can still be different in our own ways,” she explains. “It shows that even simple things can be turned into a masterpiece.”

Karishma describes fashion as a medium of identity and storytelling as much as clothing.

“Fashion gives me the platform to create things that make people happy. It’s a space where I have the freedom to design and express myself,” she says.

Known for her unapologetic, culturally inspired designs, she says her participation was about more than personal achievement.
“The event was all about building bridges through fashion.

I was excited to showcase Namibia to other countries and to represent our creativity on an international stage.”

Karishma says she is already working on her next collection, set for release later this year.

Batho Fashion Week organisers say collaborations like this highlight the growing importance of African designers in shaping global fashion narratives.

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