BY NELIWE NGUBANE
EZULWINI— Eswatini’s fashion industry has something the global market cannot simply reproduce — its story, heritage, culture and imagination, according to Her Royal Highness Princess Sakhizwe Dlamini.
Princess Sakhizwe made the remarks today at The Royal Villas during the IP RUNWAY: THE BUSINESS OF FASHION, FURNITURE & ART, held under the theme “Experience Eswatini.”
Speaking to creatives, designers, entrepreneurs, government representatives and other stakeholders, the Princess said she was passionate about fashion, furniture and art and had made an effort to attend the event because of her belief in the potential of Eswatini’s creative industries.
She said the country had an extraordinary story to tell through its designs and praised local designers after attending the entire Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival, where she said she was impressed by the quality, creativity and confidence displayed by Eswatini’s fashion designers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our designers have something special — something that cannot be copied. And that is: our story, our heritage, our culture and our imagination.”
Princess Sakhizwe said these elements gave Eswatini a distinct character and competitive advantage, urging the country to transform its cultural identity and creative expression into commercially viable brands.
EXPERIENCE ESWATINI
The Princess commended the team led by EIPO Registrar Dr Celucolo Dludlu for developing the “Experience Eswatini” theme.
She said the theme captured the essence of the Kingdom, which she described as more than a destination, but an experience that could be felt and remembered.
According to Princess Sakhizwe, Eswatini’s culture, fashion, food, art, music, craftsmanship and creativity all form part of this experience.
She said the opportunity was to ensure these experiences were protected and developed into sustainable economic value for Emaswati.
PROTECTING MADE IN ESWATINI®
Princess Sakhizwe also shared her experience with the Eswatini Intellectual Property Office (EIPO), saying her first interaction with the office came through the registration of the Made in Eswatini® trademark.
She said the process provided her and the A Peculiar People team with a deeper understanding of intellectual property registration and the steps required to protect an idea, design or brand.
She praised the IP Office for providing a service she said the Kingdom had needed for many years.
Princess Sakhizwe encouraged innovators, designers, entrepreneurs and creatives to visit the IP Office, enquire about their intellectual property rights and take steps to protect the value they create.
DEFINING MADE IN ESWATINI®
Following the successful registration of the Made in Eswatini® trademark, Princess Sakhizwe said A Peculiar People embarked on an additional task of defining what it means for a product to be genuinely Made in Eswatini®.
She said the consultation process involved engagements with the creative and fashion industries, designers, textile factories and other local production environments.
These engagements, she said, helped the team understand the realities, opportunities and challenges associated with creating and producing locally.
She explained that the Made in Eswatini® definition recognises products that have genuinely been designed, produced, transformed or delivered from Eswatini.
Princess Sakhizwe placed particular emphasis on locally designed products, saying design itself carries intellectual property, creativity, ownership and economic value.
The remarks highlighted the growing connection between Eswatini’s cultural identity, intellectual property and the commercialisation of local creativity, with the IP Runway providing a platform to explore how fashion, furniture and art can contribute to sustainable economic development.
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