Glotto

The Language of Clothing

Woman-Owned | $50-$100+ | In-Store | International Shipping | Gaborone, Botswana

Mboko Basiami (Founder)

Behind The Brand

In Gaborone, Botswana, Mboko Basiami began to notice how language doesn’t just live in words; it lives in everything. In the folds of traditional skirts. In the dust that settles on the desert floor. In the way people greet one another, even in silence.

Glotto, was Mboko Basiami her way of translating that language into clothing.

The name itself comes from glottology — the study of language — a nod to how every piece she creates says something. Sometimes softly, sometimes boldly. But always with intent.

Glotto was born out of Basiami’s desire to create seasonless clothing that carries the rhythm of Southern Africa. Trends don’t rush her designs; they’re grounded in a slower, more intentional idea of style: clothing as memory, as storytelling, as cultural preservation.

Each collection draws from the land that raised her, Botswana’s red earth, ochre tones, and minimalist architecture. You’ll find earthy palettes, structured drapes, and textures that mimic the feeling of sand underfoot or stone in sunlight.

But beyond the design, what makes Glotto remarkable is how it builds community. The brand works with local artisans and small workshops across Botswana, ensuring that the making of each garment sustains the people behind it.

Glotto has shown at Fashion Without Borders in Gaborone and was part of the Design Botswana Collective, which promotes sustainable craftsmanship across the region. Each release is limited, handmade and meant to be worn for years

Basiami designs to preserve what is disappearing, not just fabrics, but stories, a love letter to language, written in thread.