Gift Dialwe (27) a Mahikeng-based entrepreneur and natural-born fashion designer, invented the Mokgotsi smart backpack, which can be tracked when lost. A creative-born fashion designer created a smart backpack named Mokgotsi, which translates to "friend" in English, in response to the frightening reports of missing people in our country, the educational divide and the impact of losing one's valuables.
“The backpack can be tracked when lost, it has a built-in renewable charging system to charge your electronic devices. It has bluetooth audible output and other exciting features,” said Dialwe. The backpack is made of sustainable materials which make it 70% waterproof and costs between R900.00 - R5 500.00 Like many people who were raised by creatives, Gift Dialwe, a passionate, dedicated and committed youth entrepreneur, made his first backpack using recycled materials when he was in grade 9.
Gift Dialwe's passion in fashion has been influenced by growing up in Mahikeng, which is recognised for its creative culture, known as town of creatives. The man's interest in fashion and entrepreneurship was influenced not only by the town but also by the fact that he was raised in an entrepreneurial family. “I was raised by creatives, my late grandmother was a tailor and my late uncle was a leather footwear maker,” said Dialwe.
Dialwe had always been a young man who produces sustainable solutions since his primary school days until he founded his company (Veish Group) in 2018, with the aim of developing sustainable solutions to problems faced by society. “When I was in grade 7, I hand-stitched a shoe made from Denim. I then made my first backpack using recycled materials when I was in grade 9 and when I was in grade 10, I made a backpack which had audible output,” he said. “Part of the Veish Group's objectives is to educate and to empower the youth. We have partnered with several companies to ensure that we fulfil that objective. One of them is VMT Institute which is an educational institute which teaches bankable skills and gives its learners a platform to showcase and grow in the industry.
We are innovating the Mokgotsi backpacks to ensure that they can have the social impact that we intend to achieve. We will be showcasing our new range at the upcoming Potch Fashion Week in April and other lined-up fashion shows,” he concluded.
