Botswana-born yet globally made luxury fashion and lifestyle entity, Koki Kamala, releases Tsodilo "Stories of the land” or Seriti “A Heritage in Spirit” their latest version of the heritage series. The collection represents intricately woven African heritage with sophisticated global craftsmanship to create modern day heirlooms. Creatively directed and designed by Koketso Chiepe, the brand distinguishes itself by focusing on timeless elegance, cultural authenticity, and sustainability, manifesting in a diverse range of products including meticulously crafted leather bags, artisanal jewelry, hand-woven textiles, and refined slow fashion which shows so well in this rendition of the brand’s storytelling.
In Setswana, Tsodilo is derived from the phrase “Lefelo la Tsodilo” which directly translates to “The rock that whispers”. This is an ode to Botswana’s concentrations of prehistoric San rock paintings at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chiepe brilliantly translates this to tell stories of the land where she originated from but does not stop there and shares tales of the lands in which the pieces from this collection were crafted.Â
It starts with the immediately obvious influence from Botswana’s land which is alive in history and spirit. The ancient rock art of Tsodilo and the flowing waters of the Delta shape this collection — each design a tribute to sacred heritage and the beauty of the landscape. With the bag and jewellery pieces Koki Kamala presents motifs of ancestral symbols, engravings, and textures into timeless luxury. Echoing the drawings as monograms popular to high end brands like Gucci or Louis Vuitton.Â
From statement totes to finely detailed jewelry and free flowing tunic dresses, the Tsodilo Hills Collection is a bridge between past and present, each honoring sacred tradition while shaping a modern expression of African luxury. Then comes the inspiration from the country’s flora found in the Okavango Delta’s meandering rivers where water lilies are reimagined into sculptural earrings and two pieces resemble fluid forms that carry the beauty of Botswana’s living landscape.
Its other name is Seriti, meaning "spirit" or "essence" in Setswana, which speaks to the collection’s rootedness in heritage, memory, and identity. Still inspired by Botswana’s sacred landscapes, ancient traditions, and soulful beauty, each handcrafted piece honours the strength and spirit of where people come from. It’s a celebration of cultural pride, quiet power, and timeless design. Chiepe shares, “At the heart of our design. Each piece reflects a collaboration with heritage artisans.” In Indonesia the slow fashion brand creates woven textile from scratch and in Kenya, they bead into sculptural dresses and hand-craft shoes and in India they massage and colour the leather designed bags.Â
Koki Kamala is not a brand that releases every season because it takes time to make heirlooms. Heirlooms are fashion items the last through generations being passed down like culture like heritage.Â
The brand recognises the need for preservation through craftsmanship and complex techniques as that is what holds each piece through the times. This dedication to ancestral techniques and ethical production solidifies Koki Kamala's position within a growing movement of luxury brands that prioritize artisanal collaboration and cultural preservation over mass production.
They presented the full collection as the closing show at Zim Fashion Week 2025, had the supermodel turned producer, Andiswa Manxiwa, shut down the runway and still gave a workshop on the business of intentional fashion. What stood out was the fluid silhouettes that mimic flowers moving in the wind, the bright summery hues, lengthy hemlines and the layers of pleats and tassels. For such a significant theme around Koki Kamala, the pieces are radiating with ease. One follower even commented, “It gave such a Versace feel but honestly thank you for making us see your world, your vision... Beautiful.”
The bulk of the apparel was hand stitched, spun on manually manoeuvred looms with hours of sequencing and speciality beading. The french jargon would refer to and review this assembly of items as couture however this is the true nature of African fashion. “This is constructed by hand, made for life. The truest form of fashion is enduring value. Koki Kamala is the defining modern-day heirloom apparel, footwear, accessories and bags that carry beauty, meaning, and your future .” Says the Zim Fashion Week program on Koki Kamala in an instagram post during the 4 day long event.
Koki Kamala creatively honors African traditions while simultaneously embracing the nuances of modernity, thereby offering an innovative perspective on contemporary luxury. Bringing steady manufacturing, preservation of craftsmanship and beauty inspired by nature together into one story of heritage.
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