GALLERY: Resident designs for Miss World contestant
MALANSHOF – Jo Maema's dresses go to China for Miss World contestant.
Resident, Jo Maema designed a formal ball gown and the dress that will be worn by Miss Lesotho at the Miss World 2015 to be held in China on 19 December.
Maema from Malanshof is also one of the finalists in the Safda Vukani Fashion Awards which takes place in Newtown from 17 to 21 November.
“Miss Lesotho 2015 Relebohile Kobeli will be collecting her dress before the end of this week,” said Maema, the creator of Jo Maema Fashion Label situated near Cresta Shopping Centre.
The beautiful green gown made of expensive material, is Jo’s first big project and is for the opening.
The second dress resembles the Lesotho national culture.
“I can’t believe my work is going to be among the dresses designed by top world fashion designers,” Maema said.
He said he still can’t believe the Lesotho organisers presented him with a once-in-a-life-time opportunity to shine even though it is the first time he will design something huge like this.
“For me, this is not about money, but getting my designs known out there, my career needs this chance,” he said.
Maema said, “It was not my dream to become a fashion designer.”
The designer was once an award-winning dancer. Yet, his sister Lerato chose the career for him.
“I grew up dancing but after completing Matric, my sister suggested I go for fashion designing,”
Maema holds a three-year diploma in Clothing Design from Joburg Central College.
He said after completing his diploma, he went back to dancing.
“I went overseas where I worked on a cruise ship teaching dance,” he said.
Maema said after five months he came back to SA and danced Latin American for four years.
“I won the SA Amateur Rising Latin American Championship and I became part of the SA team representing SA in Latin American dance in 2009,” explained Maema.
He said it was in 2012 when he started his fashion business.
When he heard about the Miss Lesotho going to China, he approached the organisers and assured them that he would render the best service ever.
“They gave me the opportunity to design the gown and Lesotho traditional dress,” he concluded.
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