Skip to content

Women in Charge: Glamour chats with Boikokobetso and Bohloeki, sisters whose mission is Fashion with a Purpose

In recognition of Women’s Month, Glamour is dedicated to celebrating women who are resolute in their efforts to create a world and industry that is both sustainable and safe for all. Bohloeki and Boikokobetso are embarking on a mission to address the multifaceted challenges confronting the fashion industry on our continent. Ensuring that their footprint leaves a lasting positive impact. 

Hailing from Lesotho the sisters share their hopes for the future of fashion in Africa and what Women's Month means to them and highlighting the importance of community. 

Related Article Image

fashion

Designed to celebrate your silhouette G-Star reintroduces their iconic G-Star Shape Skinny

Read more

Glamour: What inspired your journey in the fashion industry? 

Insyd/Owt Creative: We were both unemployed, fresh from varsity and we realised that we had to make a plan. Insyd/Owt existed from Bohloeki’s final year project at Victoria Toma Institute of Fashion And Design in Bloemfontein, Free State. In this project I remember having a light bulb moment about beauty and realising that authentic beauty comes from the inside and radiates outward, needless to say we are following a feeling from within. Boikokobetso came up with the idea of joining forces and tackling unemployment together and so Insyd/ Owt Creatives was born. We launched our dynamic duo on the ramp at Maseru Fashion Week in 2017 with a campaign on “STOP WOMEN ABUSE” since it was during the 16 days of activism. We created a range of skirts using our mom’s old curtains.  The range was worn by male models.

Our love for fashion with purpose grew from that day. In 2018 we were invited to showcase at “Fashion Without Boarders” Johannesburg. This time our mood was, “go big or go home”. We wanted to shine light on our story as #village_girls on the ramp. Boikokobetso, our media practitioner who is passionate about storytelling and campaigns, came with the idea to tell a story of hope. “We are personifying hope on the ramp,” she said. We wrote a piece about what and who HOPE is. 

We created a range with no patterns drafted, just puzzle looking pieces. Every piece was put on the mannequin till what looked like a garment became. It felt like building puzzles, but this time it was a range out of nothing, it was fun to make do and mend what we had. This generated curiosity about the textile world. We took it upon us to find out more about textiles and sustainability on the internet. We got so consumed by sustainability talks, podcasts and short clips were our daily food. We eventually had words to how we want to function in the sustainability world; it felt familiar because we were brought up with sustainability lifestyle principles in our home. Our parents grew their own fruits and vegetables, they had a system for throwing out trash, separating plastics from the biodegradable stuff that would go to the compost. Sustainability felt closer to our reality and more approachable and not as intimidating as it was as a topic. For us sustainable fashion translates as taking care of what takes care of you.

G: With fashion playing such a destructive role in polluting the planet, what has been your mission with your brand?

IC: To this question we always say sustainability chose us. We started repurposing fabrics first by necessity; but now we repurpose by philosophy, we have tagged ourselves, as a non-wasteful culture; from the dead stock denim we bring to life, from design, to the cutting table, every thread counts #zerowaste is our mission.

G: As sisters partnering in business together, what would you say has been your greatest strength?

Boikokobetso – We wear different hats in our space. We are sisters; friends and life partners. These different hats have broken down trust so much that I have grown in confidence in how Bohloeki shows up for me as a human being and for us in our shared space. We render from each other’s strong points. 

Bohloeki – I have grown from seeing Boikokobetso as my baby sister to my life partner. Insyd/Owt Creatives is our legacy; the coolest thing is building with someone I love; someone that reminds me not to stop playing; someone that brings laughter into our space; someone I respect, she has an impressive perspective on life; it's quite cool. We are sisters by birth, friends by choice and life partners by a woven dream. 

G:Can you share what Women's Day means to you?

IC: G – Give complements loudly

I – intentionally spread kindness

R- Rest

L – Love on each other safely

Dear women; let’s keep the little GIRL in us alive, it is on us.

G: What advice can you offer young designers to create more sustainably?

IC:Community matters, find a community with shared values. We joined Fashion Revolution Global however; our closest home in the community is with Cyril Naicker and the Fashion Revolution South Africa team in Cape Town. He is holding our hand as a growing brand in this movement. Sustainability is a lifestyle, cultivating being thoughtful even in your creative process.

G: What hopes do you have for your brand?

IC:Insyd/Owt Creatives has recently joined the European Union Lesotho initiative group which sponsored our participation at AllFashion Sourcing 2025. We look forward to growing with them in creating a sustainable fashion lifestyle in Lesotho.

We hope to grow in doing right in this journey of sustainable fashion, holding high the principles of transparency, fair pay and friendly production to our environment. Creating an awareness using our bold street avant-garde pieces on international ramps. We hope to have fun creative collaboration within the sustainable fashion community. We call it #EchoHope 

G: Can you share your design process?

IC: “The main idea is expression; I know how I would wear it when I feel it.” – Bohloeki

It starts as a feeling, asking the question “what else can it be?” we have broken it down to 

  • Longevity
  • Slow fashion
  • Multifunctional
  • Repurpose
  • Preserving Basotho Heritage

This is mostly inspired by designing one item that would fit the two different bodies that are Bohloeki and Boikokobetso. We represent so many women in personality, character and shape. 

G: There are many challenges in the fashion industry globally. What are your hopes as designers for our industry in Africa?

IC: Louder cross continent collaborations, in Sesotho we say; “Kopano ke matla” meaning there is power in unity. 

Also, #AFRICA_DON’T_ STOP

Insyd/Owt Creative Designs
Insyd/Owt Creative Designs- Upcycling Denim

Subscribe
sustainable | fashion | upcycle

Recent stories by:

Tania Durand

GLAMOUR Recommends

Share this article:

You might also like