MIAP.GIF

The State of East African Fashion and Sustainable Practices

CELESTIN

celestin

Celestin Ntawirema is a proud juggler of many talents and passions; he is a singer and dancer, a poet, painter, an events organiser, photographer and filmmaker, cultural tourism and fashion entrepreneur, to mention but a few.

But of all these callings, none appeals to his sentimental side than singing and dancing. To him, this is the best way to express and explore his cultural side. As a dancer, he specializes in the Itorero and Intore traditional dance forms.

Today, he is Managing Director of IRIs pro-films 1000 hills, the owner of the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS). The company was founded in 2012. He founded his own film production company, IRIS PRO Films, with the express objective of doing photography and documentary films, as opposed to cinematic films.

After 1 year later, he founded the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show which is a forum for local and international fashion designers as well as the models. RCFS is strategically placed to support and strengthen sustainable fashion, creative business development in textiles and manufacturing industries in Rwanda and Africa.

As a fashion entrepreneur and broker, Ntawirema has invested time, energy and effort in honing his skills: He attended different workshops on fashion all over the world. Such as the Hong Kong Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Singapore Fashion Weeks and the Dubai Fashion Week. Celestin has a bachelor's degree of Art in Communications, from the Southern New Hampshire University in the United State of America.

Celestin is striving to create opportunities for artists to thrive professionally in the country by supporting artistic projects and organizing workshops, fashion shows, and sharing knowledge with the art community in Rwanda.

 

MOISE

Moses Turahirwa

“It’s funny when I think about how I got here. Here, in the fashion industry. I hold a degree in Water and Sanitation Engineering. We can both agree that it has nothing to do with fashion design.

When in university, I walked up to doorsteps of the class with a sound conviction that every session had little to do with my dream career. Never had I imagined fixing people’s problems with a pair of pliers or spanners. My vision lingered in realms of fashion. My passion and whims to pursue this vision fired up everyday into flames no one could put out. I now create solutions with a pair of scissors.

Growing up, I was surrounded by effervescent tailors from my family. I observed as their ingenious and textured subsequently come alive on the production table. My mother joined in as she exercised her mastery of knitting woolen tablecloths and sofa covers. It was so fulfilling to watch. The grit, the ken, and the fun of men and women whose creativity was not confined in a small room they operated in.

Though I had a little chance to play on their sewing machines, I was no stranger to the rhythm of stitches on fabrics; needles on apparels; hot charcoal iron on finished pieces. Not to mention their glances on posters with African models in famous kitenge designs for reference. It was an arduous but satisfying process. A whole vibe.

As time flew by, there’s something my family seemed to have passed on to me. Something I strongly resonated with: Creativity.

In 2015, it was undeniably evident that creativity had become a companion. It sent me to places of discovery, even self-discovery. It helped me rewrite style concepts in Rwanda through a wide range of categories: Bespoke, made-to-measure, ready-to-wear, and cultural designs. Creativity set Moshions in motion, and became its time-machine. A time-machine that reintroduces Rwanda’s cultural accents and plugs it to the contemporary world; building a timeless embrace of class and shared heritage.

At Moshions, we take time to make every customer experience the best of the fashion world. We exchange ideas with openness, respect, and crisp attention to details. We’re not just passionate about making clothes; we envision building a legacy that celebrates each identity. Every collection mirrors Africa’s resplendence and honors enthusiasts from around the world.

I have been part of this industry for quite a long time. I watched it grow into the unshakable empire it is now. Being part of such a promising paradigm makes me dream and work hard. I’m grateful for available opportunities. It’s my wish to inspire generations to unleash their abilities irrespective of their backgrounds.

To me, every minute is a resounding chance to have a solid impact on the state of fashion. I owe it to you and my family.” – Moise Turahirwa.

 

 

Read 17492 times Last modified on Friday, 06 September 2019 08:09
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