Some fashion lovers are in the darkness as the Kwita Izina 2023 has ended without fashion events in Kigali. This is the first time since 2012 to host this amazing event that brings together many people from all over the World. But no fashion show at this time around. It is hard to tell what happened to the event's organizers, especially fashion show organizers.

PHOTO: Top 5 big fashion shows in Rwanda 

This is what we think happened:

1. Kigali Fashion Week

In the interview with the CEO and founder of the Kigali Fashion Week (KFW), Mr. John Bunyeshuli, told the RCFS's Media that he is not ready to organize an event for the KFW in Kigali soon.

"I am not ready, Maybe one day I will do an event in Kigali for the KFW, but right now I don't feel it necessary because there are so many other shows; there is CollectiveRw / Rwanda Fashion Week, Mercedes Kigali Fashion Week is there, and the RCFS. Let them do it" said Bunyeshuli

PHOTO: John Bunyeshuli CEO & Founder of the Kigali Fashion Week 

According to Mr. Bunyeshuli, currently is a very hard decision to organize a fashion event as there are many other unpredictable fashion events that may happen at any time, on the same day, and on the same date.

"It is fine to have many fashion shows around Kigali but the hidden agenda and plans of some of the organizers will make us fall again and again. For example, We don't know the plans of this one, and that one doesn't know our plans. What does this mean? We are walking the opposite of two sides. If organizers, we are not collaborating, so then..." Bunyeshuli Added.

PHOTO: Model displaying different collections at a past Kigali Fashion Week

KFW was founded in 2012 and its 2013 edition was organized partnered with LDJ Productions, the company that runs New York Fashion Week. Since then, the event has become a platform to promote local fashion designers as well as models. The event has been a gatewaying for local fashion designers and models to reach the international market. According to Bunyeshuli the KFW had been promoting made-in-Rwanda products in a fashion that he is happy about.

2. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali was founded in 2019 by Daniel Ndayishimiye. Before joining the fashion event organizers, he was working as a photographer and lighting specialist. He has experience in event management as he worked with the Kigali Fashion Week and the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show in different fashion shows and editions.

PHOTO: Daniel Ndayishimiye, CEO & Founder Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali

Last year Mr. Ndayishimiye did the 2nd edition of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali 2022, but according to the outcome, few people including journalists said that the event was good but still missing a few things such as having a strong technical team and enough local connections to get enough sponsors.

"That event is good; the brand is good because it is in the face of the world's leading company in manufacturing cars and vehicles. Everyone was so waoo, to see the first edition in Kigali which also had some challenges. Let's agree that the name of this event doesn't really match the outcome of a fashion show that is sponsored by Mercedes Benz. It is supposed to be bigger than that. look at the editions in the accra, Ghana" said an entertainment Journalist from TV 1.

According to the information the RCFS's Media has, Mr. Ndayishimiye is busy working with a few other fashion events that will take place in Ghana.

"To be honest, Danny was not able to organize events during the Kwita Izina because he was busy. Two months ago, he was in Europe with Christopher on the Europe Tour. Now information I have is that he is in the team that is organizing 2 big fashion events that will take place in Ghana" said Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali's technique team member 2022 edition

Clearly, According to this team member,  in the eyes of the fashion lovers, this means that the owners of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali are busy and were not able to organize local events during these periods of the Kwita Izina 2023.

3. Rwanda Modesty Fashion Show

This event was founded in 2016 by Abdul Wahabi Ngabitsinze. He started as a runway model for 4 years and same time was working with the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show, as an intern. In 2016, started his own fashion event brand and it was at that time he became a full-time technical team member of the RCFS''s events. 

There is one thing that makes the Rwanda Modesty Fashion Show look unique: dressing up in line with respecting culture, hence all the collections, showcased at the fourth edition of the show in December 2019, were locally made, and proved that the true beauty of a Rwandan lies in dressing up properly and decently. 

PHOTO: Models on the runway during the Rwanda Modesty Fashion Show 2019, at ONOMO Hotel- Kigali

The future of the annual fashion show, which is mainly organized to promote Rwanda's cultural values through fashion, looks promising given that the organizers of the event are focusing on giving the respect Rwandan culture deserves. 

During the interviews, Mr. Ngabitsinze said that he was busy with his wedding. And his team couldn't organize the event during the Kwita Izina 2023. However, He also said that it is hard to organize events during the Kwita Izina as many people had been taking over side fashion events.

" I am well with my family. We had a good wedding, we thank Allah. We have been very busy in the last couple of months, so It would not be possible for me to host an event during the Kwita Izina ceremony in 2023. But, even though I had time. Let me be honest with you. Kigalians during this period had no jokes. All sponsors are already taken by a single fashion event or more, so I can't dare" said Ngabitsinze.

PHOTO: Abdul Wahabi Ngabitsinze CEO & Founder of the Rwanda Modesty Fashion Show

4. CollectiveRw/ Rwanda Fashion Week

CollectiveRW (CRW) is an organization that was founded in 2015 by a small group of local, established designers. Working in collaboration with industry experts, government institutions, and the private sector. CRW aims to promote a dynamic creative sector, which, in turn, creates jobs and empowers youth and under-served communities.

PHOTO: Member of the CollectiveRw/Rwanda Fashion Week 2022, Mr. Matthew Rugamba CEO & founder of the House of Tayo was explaining to His Majesty King Charles III about what was happening during the RFW2022 - CHOGM2022

Since it started in 2015, this event has taken over all fashion events, especially during the Kwita Izina Ceremony which is organized by the Rwanda Development Board- RDB, Rwanda Convention Bureaux(RCB), and Visit Rwanda campaign, the government institutions that most the supporters of the CRW.

According to fashion lovers, the CollectiveRw / Rwanda Fashion Week, they supposed to organize a fashion show during the 2023 Kwita Izina Ceremony but fashion lovers don't have an idea of what is going on as today was the day for them.

"What I know, during this period of the Kwita Izina, they organize fashion talks, exhibitions as well and fashion shows. Their fashion events are the most attended in Kigali, as they get all guests who come to Kwita Izina, and also some government officials like their event. I also like their event by the way" said a Fashion lover in Kigali.

PHOTO: Model on the runway during the  CollectiveRw/Rwanda Fashion Week 2022,  side event during the CHOGM2022

The RCFS's Media tried to talk to some members of the CollectiveRw / Rwanda Fashion Week and those who were given a call refused to talk to our journalist after hearing the questions:  Do you guys have an event today or tomorrow?

5. Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCF)

RCFS is a forum for local and international fashion designers, to showcase their designs. This event is unique by featuring designs from a variety of cultures and from local and international designers. It is organized and managed by IRIS PRO-FILMS 1000 HILLS which is a film and Photography Company that also specializes in event management and representation of actors and models.

During the interview with the RCFS's Operation Manager and Assistant Director Moniah Uwimbabazi. Her experience doesn't allow her team to organize events during the Kwiza Izina ceremony anymore.

"In 2019, we had a very good plan like always to have an international cultural fashion show. We approached the RDB and RCB- Rwanda Convention Burauex and both agreed that we are going to have a side event (fashion show). They promised us that they would support the event and even send the guests from the delegation who came to Kwiza Izina 2019.

We invested heavily in preparations and to have a good show. Sadly, at the last minute, I mean 5 days before the RCFS2019. My CEO got a call from our friend who was in a meeting with other officials who were working on the side's events during the week of the Kwita Izina 2019. He was asking us" Who did you talk to the RDB or RCB? Everyone here is saying they don't know your event," said Moniah

PHOTO:  Moniah Uwimbabazi, the Operation Manager and Assistant Director at the RCFS 

" We were very shocked to hear that nobody knew us (our event) during the preparations. However, we had more than 5 meetings in their offices with the RDB &RCB team in charge of the Kwita Izina. We had nothing to say after that call just kept preparations going and hoped maybe they would send us some guests on the final day.

PHOTO: Poster, used to advertise the RCFS 2019

The hard part of that story, our event was scheduled to take place at Kigali Business Center (KBC). Guess what, On the same day, same date, and the same time, the CollectiveRw organized a fashion show at the Radisson Blu/ Convention Center, 2 minutes crossing the street from our event venue. We had no one inside the venue only models and fashion designers. By the way, I still want to thank the entertainment media journalists in our country who recognized and covered the RCFS 2019 on that day. I remember there was an event, in BK Arena and an event near us at the Raddison Blue (CRW2019) At least, the Media valued the hard work we used to organize that edition till that day. We had the most well-known entertainment journalists in Rwanda from all media houses. They came because they knew everything about that 2019 edition, since day one. 

That time we had the 4 international fashion designers, we invited and who also wanted to benefit from that week of Kwita Izina. When some took flights from the country to here, knowing that you are organized and that last minute, found that your venue is empty. It was so embarrassing, It was so hard for me to explain to those international fashion designers. So, to be clear to you the RCFS is no longer organizing events during the Kwita Izina. Maybe in the future but not now" said Moniah

PHOTO: Models on the runway, during the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show 2015, at the Hotel des Milles Collines. 

Hosting fashion shows during the Kwita Izina ceremony is good for local fashion designers as well as runway models. It is good for fashion entrepreneurs in general as fashion shows provide jobs to them. No, fashion shows during this period when Kigali was busy meant jobless for fashion entrepreneurs especially models and fashion photographers who most benefit from fashion shows only.

In the next Part 2. the RCFS's Media will talk to government institutions in charge of the arts and creative industry and more fashion entrepreneurs to understand better and find out what can be done among fashion entrepreneurs so that in the next year of the Kwita Izina 2024, we will have many fashion shows around Kigali that will create jobs for fashion entrepreneurs.

TO BE CONTINUED…

RCFS's Media