Decisive, formerly known as Indecisive, is a bespoke and ready-to-wear fashion brand based in Gaborone. Firmly positioned in the upmarket space, the brand was founded with intention and heart, born from a deep desire to belong. At its core, Decisive is about creating space for individuality โ a place where self-expression is not only welcomed but celebrated as a strength, founder Moitshepi Mokaila toldย Executive Lifestyle.
In an interview, Mokaila shared the deeply personal story behind the brandโs creation.
โThe brand was birthed by a timid, socially awkward young girl who was colorful and expressive on the inside, but struggled to verbalise that,โ she said. โHer expression came through how she dressed; her outfits became her shield. They provoked conversation, and in doing so, became her form of non-verbal communication.โ
That young girl was Mokaila โ but as she noted, it could also be anyone. With that vulnerability at its core, Decisive has evolved into a bold, empowering fashion house: a platform for identity, expression, and quiet strength communicated through style.
Ironically, Mokaila never set out to enter the fashion world โ or the creative industry at all.
โI thought I was going to be a lawyer,โ she said with a laugh. โI was quite a nerd.โ
Growing up, she excelled academically, loved reading, and always imagined a future filled with textbooks and courtrooms โ not runways and garment racks.
โBeing creative was the furthest thing from my mind,โ she said. โI didnโt even take art at IGCSE level โ and truthfully, I was pretty bad at it.โ
It wasnโt until adulthood, when she began to find her voice and step into her confidence, that fashion started to feel less like a detour and more like a calling. What began as a personal outlet for self-expression slowly evolved into Decisive โ a bold, intentional brand with unexpected beginnings.
For Mokaila, fashion has never just been about clothes. It’s about confidence, storytelling, and wearable art. That vision has taken her beyond fashion design and into costume design.
โIโm not only a fashion designer โ Iโm also a costume designer,โ she said. โIโve had the privilege of working as head of wardrobe on two international films so far. Through these roles, I am able to continue telling stories through clothing, which is something I have always craved for my country.โ
She is passionate about originality and innovation in Botswanaโs fashion industry.
โI donโt just want to place a brand name on generic garments,โ she said. โI want to create, to build something authentic, and to truly represent what โMade in Botswanaโ can stand for.โ
Mokaila sees Decisive as more than a brand โ itโs a movement for a more intentional, identity-driven fashion industry in Botswana.
โOur industry is still young. Itโs in its infancy. But I want to be part of shaping it โ to be the change Iโd like to see as a fashion designer,โ she said.
Faith, Mokaila added, is central to everything she does.
โGod comes first โ before anything else,โ she said. โThatโs what Decisive is built on.โ
For her, fashion is not just a career โ itโs a purpose-driven calling. Her mission is to spread love and light through her work and to use fashion as a tool to inspire others toward self-actualisation. She hopes her designs empower people to break free from societyโs definitions of โnormalโ and instead embrace who they truly are โ boldly and unapologetically.
One recurring symbol in her visual language is the rainbow โ not the typical seven-color version, but the eight-color biblical rainbow, which she says represents all of Godโs children. For Mokaila, it is a symbol of inclusivity, hope, and divine purpose โ themes deeply woven into every collection she creates.
One of her biggest lessons so far has been patience โ a virtue she admits is still a challenge.
โYou need a community around you that believes in your vision, even if itโs just one person to remind you why you started โ especially on hard days,โ she said.
Prayer, she added, has been her constant.
โI wouldnโt have done any of this without God.โ
After nearly seven years of working mostly alone, Mokaila says she is proud of what sheโs built. But she also recognises that scaling her brand will require a team.
โA team is necessary,โ she said simply. โYou canโt do everything alone.โ
The DNA of Decisive, she added, is deeply personal.
โI was the timid child. The voiceless one. Misunderstood and desperate to fit in,โ she said. That yearning for belonging has shaped every step of her fashion journey โ including moments of deep doubt.
One such moment came when Mokaila was accepted into the prestigious MFA in Fashion Design and Society at The New School Parsons in New York City โ a world-renowned institution often likened to Harvard for fashion.
โWith this acceptance, I was blessed,โ she said.
She received a partial merit-based scholarship and launched a GoFundMe campaign, wrote dozens of letters, and knocked on countless doors seeking support. But despite her efforts, she was unable to raise the remaining funds โ a heavy blow, she said.
Still, Mokaila remains undeterred.
Her story โ and her brand โ are still unfolding, stitched together by faith, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to purpose.
