Kavsokl Batoka, also known by the pseudonym Kav Élite, is a Togolese fashion designer who leads the company Kav Élite, which has become her pseudonym. She is recognized as a prominent Togolese fashion artist and dresses several first ladies of the African continent, among others.

Kavsokl Batoka
OccupationFashion designer, textile designer, business executive, dressmaker, costume designer Edit this on Wikidata

Batoka is also involved in charitable works, particularly for Togolese orphans, as she herself is fatherless.

Biography

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Career

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The designer lost her father at a very young age.[1] After completing her studies, Batoka studied fashion in Togo for four years and graduated at the top of her class in 1998.[2][3] She then went to Dakar, Senegal, to further her training.[2][3]

The artist began her work in the fashion industry in the early 2000s by founding her company, Kav Élite, in Lomé, Togo,[4] which initially had only three apprentices.[3]

In 2022, the designer presented her first "Kav Elite Fashion Show" in Lomé, attended by other Togolese and African fashion figures, such as Desmond Design.[5] This event was an opportunity for her to showcase her "Arc-en-ciel" (Rainbow) collection.[5] Alongside this presentation, Kav Élite organized a fundraiser for charitable works and donations to Togolese orphanages.[6][7] In 2022, she visited an orphanage to offer food and supplies.[1] Among her clients are several first ladies of the African continent, and she is sometimes nicknamed the "Baroness of Fashion".[8]

Additionally, her creations have been featured on the covers of Ivorian fashion magazines "Life Magazine" and "Brut", and she was invited to the stage at the 9th edition of the International Togolese Fashion Festival.[6][9] There, she presented her collection "Gneto lim", which means "greenery" in Kabiye,[3] a particularly verdant collection dedicated to environmental protection.[10] The following year, in 2023, Kav Élite presented one of her collections in Abidjan.[11]

In July 2024, she presented her "Fraternité" collection in Brussels[4][12] and then organized the second session of her "Kav Elite Fashion Show", scheduled to be held from 18 to 21 July 2024, in the Kozah prefecture,[13] with the aim of integrating disadvantaged populations from northern Togo into fashion creation.[14]

Personal life

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Batoka is married and the mother of five children.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Papyrus, Le (2022-12-31). "Humanitaire : Kav élite au chevet des enfants de l'orphelinat SPES". Le papyrus (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-03-02. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  2. ^ a b c ACTU, GLOBAL (2022-02-21). "FIMO 228 : par sa collection, KAV Elite a démontré qu'elle veut conquérir le monde". Global Actu (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  3. ^ a b c d "KAV Elite: Des créations à la dimension internationale - Togo Breaking News" (in French). 2022-02-26. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  4. ^ a b "La marque togolaise Kav Élite fait sensation avec la collection " Fraternité " à Bruxelles | ActuBilan" (in French). 2024-07-02. Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  5. ^ a b Gapola (2022-11-28). "Togo : Kavsokl Batoka présente sa collection " Arc-en-ciel "". GAPOLA (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  6. ^ a b "Mode: La maison de couture Kav Elite confirme son professionnalisme à travers un show inédit". L'Eveil de la Nation (in French). 2022-11-28. Archived from the original on 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  7. ^ afreepress (2022-11-30). "Mode : la styliste-modéliste Kav Elite séduit avec ses collections". Afreepress (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  8. ^ Papyrus, Le (2022-11-12). "Défilé de mode : KAV Elite crée l'évènement". Le papyrus (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  9. ^ "Kav Elite: les collections Arc-en-ciel présentées au public - Togo Breaking News" (in French). 2022-11-27. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  10. ^ "Fashion Festival international - FIMO 228 EDITION 9 2022: KAV ELITE presents her Couture Collection - DESIGNERS NEWS AFRICA" (in French). 2022-02-19. Archived from the original on 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  11. ^ Afrikfashion (2023-09-20). "Made in Togo, Kav élite présente sa nouvelle collection à Abidjan". Afrikfashion (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  12. ^ Gapola (2024-07-03). "Bruxelles : Kav Elite présente sa collection "Fraternité" à la diaspora togolaise et africaine". GAPOLA (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  13. ^ "Mode : Kav Elite brille à White Party à Bruxelles - Togo Breaking News" (in French). 2024-07-03. Archived from the original on 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  14. ^ AGBODJAN, Narcisse Prince (2024-06-26). "KAV ELITE particulièrement attendue à Bruxelles -" (in French). Archived from the original on 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2024-07-09.