February 28, 2023, from 10am to 1pm, The Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS) hosted an open webinar on the future of the fashion industry in Rwanda. RCFS organized this webinar to reinforce the collaboration between fashion agencies in Rwanda and strengthen how they can work together to recover from Covid-19’s impacts on the fashion industry. This virtual conference had participants such as fashion designers, models, journalists, fashion promoters, and event planners gathered to exchange ideas about the development of fashion in Rwanda.

Keynote speakers were:

1. Mrs. Dukuzumuremyi Marie Chantal, Legal Representative of Berwa Rwanda Federation (Fashion &Beauty)
2. Mrs. Karen Uwera, President of the Rwanda Designers Association and CEO & founder of Karssh Collection
3. CEO & Founder of Webest Models Management, Mr. Kabano Franco
4. Mr. Eddie Nsabimana, a journalist at The New Times

The discussion moderators were Mr. Celestin Ntawirema, the RCFS Founder, and his assistant Monique Uwimbabazi. It was open for everyone to participate and share ideas. Fashion lovers were curious to participate where two days before the webinar,  some were commenting that it is time for fashion stakeholders to be honest and speak the truth about the issues in the fashion industry so that they can be tackled from their root causes.

The main topics covered throughout the discussion were:

• The role of media and journalism in the development of fashion in Rwanda
• How to reach the available opportunities for young and upcoming fashion designers
• The improvement of modeling at the international level
• How Berwa Rwanda Federation (fashion and beauty) can bring together all people in the fashion industry
• How to recover from Covid-19’s impacts

 After the opening remark and showing the agenda, Mr. Celestin welcomed Mr. Eddie Nsabimana to talk about the role of media and journalism in the development journey of fashion in Rwanda. Mr. Eddie said that the media was there from the beginning of the fashion journey, and the media is playing a big role in promoting the fashion industry to the international audience.  He added that fashion designers and models should put more effort to work closely with the media because it is always there to help them in one way or another. However, Mr. Eddie mentioned that the lack of creativity and uniqueness in fashion is affecting the development of the fashion industry. He encouraged people in the fashion industry to collaborate and work as a team to overcome challenges in their sector.

Mr. Eddie Nsabimana, a journalist at The New Times

The floor was handed to Mrs. Karen Uwera to talk about the opportunities for fashion designers in Rwanda and how there are shared with all the stakeholders. She said that opportunities are there, but it is hard to find where. To mean that people should work together to facilitate the value chains in the fashion market. Mrs. Karen added that it is okay for Private Sector Federation (PSF), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), and Rwanda Heritage Academy (RHA) to have art and creative departments that support local fashion designers and models. The important thing is how the beneficiaries will collaborate to benefit from these institutions. She was also more concerned about how it is still an issue to find professional fashion photographers. There is a gap in the professional fashion photographers that needs to be addressed as soon as possible because it is hard for a designer to show his/her collection without having a professional photographer to do so as in the saying “No photo, nothing happened.”

Mrs. Karen Uwera, President of the Rwanda Designers Association and CEO & founder of Karssh Collection

During the discussion, Mr. Kabano Franco was also present and was introduced by the moderator Mr. Celestin as one of the people in Rwanda's fashion industry who is helping Rwandan models at the international level, especially in Europe. He is also the founder of the Rwanda Fashion Models Union (RFMU) which aims to introduce modeling to government institutions. On his floor, Mr. Franco said that modeling is a career that Rwanda models should see as a job, not as a hobby, but they have to be careful to decide if they want to be and live as a model because it takes much energy and requires them to be patient until they become successful. He also advises Rwandan models to be mindful when deciding to join a particular modeling agency.

CEO & Founder of Webest Models Management, Mr. Kabano Franco

During further discussion, the Legal Representative of Berwa Rwanda Federation (fashion & beauty), Mrs. Marie Chantal Dukuzumuremyi talked about the purpose of the organization, which is to bring together fashion designers, make-up artists, and all people who are in the fashion and beauty sector. She added that Berwa Rwanda Federation is the umbrella for fashion designers in Rwanda. However, the organization's development is not certain because people in fashion are not collaborating. Mrs. Marie Chantal acknowledged that the government needs to help fashion stakeholders to establish a training center where skilled people in fashion will meet to build a strong industry that will involve everyone at his/her level.

Mrs. Dukuzumuremyi Marie Chantal, Legal Representative of Berwa Rwanda Federation (Fashion &Beauty)

After the keynote speakers, Mr. Celestin opened the discussion to all participants so they can comment, share ideas, or ask questions. Mr. Mutabazi Willy, the Legal Representative of the RFMU expressed his views on what the organization is doing for local models to be recognized as well as having professional models to represent Rwanda on the international scene. He added that models still missing a collaborative spirit among them, and the organization will continue to bring models together and create jobs for the models.

The discussion took longer than expected due to the many questions asked. The words “uniqueness” “quality” and “Collaboration” came back many times during the discussion to highlight that fashion designers need to show the uniqueness and quality of their work to become sustainable and successful. And for the fashion industry to excel, all people involved need to collaborate and work as partners, not as competitors.

Mr. Celestin Ntawirema, the founder of the RCFS in 2019, during the discussions about the development of the fashion industry in Rwanda.  

“Uniqueness” and “Quality” were also other topics that raised attention when Mrs. Uwera said that made in Rwanda are not Kitenge fabrics only. Fashion designers must be more creative to create something unique to represent them and their brands.

“Don’t take a made-in-China shirt to add a bit of Kitenge fabric or Umugongo and say you are doing made-in-Rwanda or you call yourself a fashion designer?" said Uwera.  Some participants asked her what she thinks about the high prices of made in Rwanda made clothes, and she answered that some people continue to complain about the prices of different fashion shops in Kigali, but some don't even think about what made the clothes they intend to buy and where the fabric was imported from.

Other participants included; Sammy Kwizera, an entertainment journalist on Flash TV, who is also the former journalist of Fashion focus, the first fashion TV show established in Rwanda. There were also, the CEO & Founder of Tarama Rwanda Initiative, Mr. Kageruka Wilson, CEO & Founder of Rwanda Modesty Fashion Show, Mr. Ngabitsinze Adbul Wahabi, CEO & Founder of UNO Fashion agency, Augustin Hakizimana artist painter and fashion designer who is currently based in Malawi, CEO & Founder O’poma Designs, Fashion designer Elise Furaha, model Ellesa Morgan and many more.

As a closing remark, the RCFS representative Monique Uwimbabazi said that these discussions are the continuing point to put together people in the fashion industry, and it will help to promote new talents and allow them to have access to the platform which can guide them toward their dreams. Ms. Monique thanked all the keynote speakers, participants, and Mr. Celestin for successfully moderating the discussion.

Watch the discussion here

By Florence Niyigena

Content Creator and Editor | Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show