Cheap China-made African print wax brands have been present in markets on the continent for decades, initially as badly-made replicas, but increasingly, as high-quality alternatives.

Accra, Ghana – On a weekday this December, the fabrics section at Accra’s frenzied Makola market was unusually quiet for the festive end-of-year period. Female traders with big woven hats sat in front of their stalls chatting and tiredly swatting away flies. Behind them, colourful African wax textiles were stacked in rows from ground to ceiling, waiting to be bought.

Vida Yeboah, one of the traders, said the stalls would normally be teeming with customers hunting for the latest designs to take to their tailors to cut up and sew into different styles from wide-mouthed A-Line dresses, to tops and skirts, for the New Year festivities. But Ghana’s shaky economy has forced many to shun that tradition.

“Since COVID, schools have started resuming in December and that means most people are thinking of how their sons and daughters would go to school,” the 55-year-old said. Schools are usually on holiday in December, but schedules for many schools changed after the long pandemic break. “Now, there is no money. People prefer to spend on other things, or they will go and buy the small ones.”

The ‘small’ brands Yeboah refers to are the much cheaper versions of African wax print that have flooded markets in Ghana and across Africa for years now, and that are giving “original” manufacturers tough competition. Imported from China, the fabrics often carry designs imitating more established brands and sell for between a third, to a tenth of the price. Some are outright counterfeits, claiming in typo-ridden labels to be recognisable brands.

But although these Chinese-made fabrics get a bad rap, some say they are increasingly of good quality, with their gaudy designs becoming more chic, and their colours no longer fading after a wash.

“Some people say it is good,” Yeboah said. “That original is too costly, even I myself, I don’t sell it,” she added, pointing to her stock. She sells Hitarget, a popular China-made brand seen as a high quality, cheaper alternative to big names, and that’s way ahead in the “smalls” range.

“This one is 90 cedis ($8), people can afford that one,” Yeboah said, picking up a blue and orange print with geometric designs. “If one doesn’t have the money for big ones, the person will at least buy something before leaving the market.”

A section of Ankara fabric at Makola market, Accra, Ghana [Shola Lawal/Al Jazeera]

Made in the Netherlands, loved in Africa

Known mostly as Ankara, the origins of the colourful fabric that has come to embody the very essence of African-ness on the continent, and for diasporans looking to stay connected to their roots, is not African itself.

The material was born when Dutch tradesmen in the 1800s attempted to mechanically mass-produce the intricate, hand-made designs of Javanese batik prints native to the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. The designs, made with a wax-resist dyeing method that left equal colour intensity on both sides of plain cotton spreads, didn’t catch on. But European printers soon found that their invention was getting unexpected attention somewhere else – in Africa.

Several Europeans including 22-year-old Pieter Fentener van Vlissingen, a Dutch manufacturer, started to produce the material in bales, cutting them up by the yard, and shipping them to bustling cities like Accra, where traders from other countries would travel to buy them. The myth goes that the name “Ankara” came from Hausa traders across West Africa attempting to call the fabric by where they bought it from – Accra.

In West and Central Africa, the boldly coloured cloth kickstarted a style revolution. People, especially women, wore the material everywhere – weddings, naming ceremonies, burials. Soon, the new fabric edged out indigenous materials like the earthy blue tye-dye Adire of the Yorubas in Nigeria and the flashy, hand-woven Kente of the Ashanti and Ewes of Ghana, which were heavier and not suitable for everyday wear like Ankara.

Vlissengen’s company was at the forefront of the new era.

“African women just embraced it,” Perry Oosting, the CEO of Vlissengen’s company, now called Vlisco, told Al Jazeera from the Helmond office. “They loved the brighter colors and they saw that the quality was better than what was available in the market compared to other imported goods, so that’s how it started. They embraced it and they also gave stories to it.”

After 177 years, the brand has gone on to become the most popular wax print maker on the continent, painting itself as the ‘original’ luxury brand, amid a sea of fake and counterfeit China-made copies. Six yards of Vlisco costs as high as 220 cedis ($200) but imitations cost much less. That though, Oosting said, could be to the brand’s advantage

“If you’re successful, you’re being copied, and it keeps us alert to continue to innovate and to be creative,” Oosting said. Vlisco, the CEO added, has no plans to lower prices, despite Ghana’s tight economy, soaring inflation in Nigeria, and the weakening of the Congolese Franc. Instead, it has invested in trademarking its designs using QR codes and has even trained customs officers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a major market for the brand, to spot counterfeits.

“We’ve been through so much over the years, we’ve seen coup d’etats and actually, we have built some resilience,” Oosting said, adding that the pandemic, and the Ebola outbreaks that wracked the DRC were one of the brand’s toughest times. “What we are not doing is starting to discount because we have our product DNA that needs to be secured. Yes, the market is difficult but we want to keep our quality because we are not here for the next six months, we are here for the next decade, the next century.”

A man selling unsewn fabrics locally known as ‘Ankara’ walks through a street at Agege district in Lagos, Nigeria June 22, 2016 [Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters]

The Nana Benz era

In those early days of the African wax print, entrepreneurial African women worked with European manufacturers like Vlisco to come up with beautiful new patterns that also carried meaning and that the women bought exclusive distribution rights to.

In Togo, where the market had moved to because of Kwame Nkrumah’s protectionist policies in Ghana, the “Nana Benzes” became particularly skilled at monopolising prints. The group of several women traders were crucial to the success of Vlisco.

“We got so much feedback from the market through them,” Oosting of Vlisco said. “They were not just business partners, they were partners.”

Nana Benzes went on to be so successful between the 1960s – 1980s that they became some of the first female millionaires in Togo, the only ones able to afford luxurious Mercedes Benz cars, thus earning them their nicknames.

Now though, the Nana Benzes have been forgotten as Ankara production has moved to China.

So, too, have the local wax print brands that crept up in the mid-20th century – Africa’s independence era – in an attempt to localise the production of Ankara, to claim it fully as African and break the domination of European printers like Vlisco which still produces in the Netherlands.

In 1966, Ghana launched the Ghana Textiles Printing Company (GTP), with the government having majority stake. Around the same time, Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL), particularly popular for its Adinkra symbols borrowed from the Gyamans ethnic group, also came on the scene. In Nigeria, the United Nigerian Textile Mills (UNTL) partnered with the Cha Group in Hong Kong to open a mill in northern Kaduna state. In Ivory Coast, Uniwax was birthed – a partnership between the Ivorian government and Unilever, the British consumer goods manufacturer.

But a cocktail of issues including government policies, counterfeits, a lack of infrastructure and the unavailability of locally sourced cotton, forced many printers to shutter or sell out, costing hundreds of textile workers their jobs.

GTP and Uniwax are now subsidiaries of Vlisco. Oostings of Vlisco says although its subsidiaries produce locally, Vlisco itself has no immediate plans to move manufacturing from Helmond to the continent.

Some brands are aiming to once again localise production but face similar issues.

Lome’s Wina Wax is designed locally but manufactured in China because of a lack of electricity, Marlene Adanlete-Djondo, the founder and a Nana Benz descendant, told Jeune Afrique. Producing in China is an attempt to adapt at all costs, while offering reasonable prices.

“Uniwax in Côte d’Ivoire and GTP in Ghana were bought by Vlisco certainly due to a lack of financial contributions,” Adanlete-Djondo said. “We do not want such a future for Wina Wax.”

Soft to the touch

As all sorts of smalls flood the market, it’s harder to distinguish between which is a good small or which is a bad small.

In Makola, young women arrange rolled-up “Smalls” on flat trays balanced on their heads and hawk them around. All the brands carry words like “Guaranteed” or “Real wax” on their edges.

But Augustina Otoo, a fashion designer in Accra said it’s the feel of the Ankara fabric, the flexibility of it, that often tells which ones are high quality and which ones are substandard, regardless of the name, brand or words printed on the cloth.

Most cheap imports use cheaper grades of cotton for production, and even mix the cotton with fabrics like polyester, whereas, authentic loinclothes are wholly cotton, Otoo, 26, added. Where quality Ankara fabric is soft to touch and yields under the heat of an iron, some smalls lack such mouldability, making them a pain to sew into the elaborate styles customers demand.

“Some of them are just like rubber, some of them even feel like paper,” Otoo said, laughing at her own analogy. “I’ve sewn a lot of them. When you’re ironing, it’s so stiff, it crumples. And when you want to straighten it, it just remains stiff. They put some shiny stuff on it that fades when you wash it. It doesn’t even last up to three months.”

But that hasn’t stopped her customers from buying them.

“This season especially, we’ve seen a lot of new designs in the small ones,” Otoo said. There’s little she can do to convince her customers to buy more authentic brands, she added. “Me, I just provide the service and collect my money.”

Source 

On its first edition, the RIFI Dance and Fashion 2023 surprised the audiences where fashion and dance met for the first time in Kigali. The event took place on Saturday, 30 December at the Onomo Hotel Kigali. It brought together local talented fashion designers, dancers, and models.

Made in Rwanda clothes were among those showcased at the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

After the event, Mr. Ri Koni Yocan the CEO and founder of RIFI Entertainment which is the organizer of the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 told the Inyarwanda newspaper that he was happy with the outcome and promised the second edition in this year 2024 to be even better than the 2023's edition.

Ri Kon Yocan CEO  and founder of the RIFI Fashion Agency the winner of Best Agency 2023 

"Our event went well even though it was a bit rainy for some hours. It was not 100% but we did it and all went well. I want to thank my team and everyone who participated in this year's edition. I also want to tell the audience that this year's edition will be even better than the 2023's edition" said Mr. Ri Koni Yocan the CEO and founder of RIFI Entertainment

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

ALSO READ: WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE RIFI DANCE AND FASHION SHOW 2023? THIS SATURDAY, 30 DECEMBER

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

 ALSO READ:  RIFI Fashion Agency is the number one modeling agency in Rwanda

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfits showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

Made in Rwanda outfit showcased during the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

RIFI Dancing Crew /RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

RIFI Dancing Crew /RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023 (Photo Inyarwanda)

More photos from the show

 By the RCFS's MEDIA 

Some people call him a consistent fashion designer Rwanda has ever had in the history of fashion designing. Patrick Muhire had been creating a signature style and maintaining a cohesive aesthetic across his collections. He was the first person to open a fashion house in Kigali the Ikanda House.

Patrick Muhire CEO and Creative Director, founder of Inkanda House (Photo Inkanda)

According to the experts in fashion, being a consistent fashion designer is key for the brand itself to stay competitive with other fashion brands " It involves staying true to your design principles, whether it's through your choice of colors, silhouettes, materials, or design elements. Consistency doesn't mean stagnation, though—evolving while maintaining that core essence can keep your designs fresh and exciting for your audience" Fashion Expert said

As we are celebrating Happy New Year's and holidays Inkanda House recently released a new collection entitled " NDABAGA SHENGE. During the interview, our journalists asked him what this collection is"all in black" and what message he has for fashion lovers as we end the year of 2023

New Umucyenyero from NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House, Model: Jolie Bwiza (Photo Inkanda)

Journalist: Can you share with fashion enthusiasts more about the NGABAGA SHENGE Collection and why you chose this name?

There are two main reasons why I created this collection NDABAGA SHENGE. One is to share the values and give respect to the Rwanda women at all levels and all women in the world generally. I dedicate this collection to them. Currently, the whole world is talking about the rights of women. why we should give respect and value to our mothers and sisters.

Now we know women can do what men can do. For example, women can be in military service, women can work on construction sites, and women can be fighters in one way or another. Referring to our history, we had a woman called NGABAGA who was born into a family as a single girl child. When she reached her teenage age, she heard that her father was not returning home because he did not have a person to replace him. According to the laws of the Kingdom of that time. To be able to return from servicing the kings, you have to have a son to replace you for retirement. So NDABAGA did the impossible when she removed her two breasts and trained for the battle with a single goal to save her father who was stuck because he had no son which she finally achieved.

We have many women who are doing the same thing as her, we have women who are widows no husbands anymore and they have families to feed. They don't stay home, they search for any available job even the ones to become manpower on the streets or road construction. We have women in every sector. In every job or working environment, you will find women in there. Today all women are NDABAGA, so my collection is for all women who stand up and do what men do to develop themselves, their families, and their countries.

The last is that even though women still do these jobs like men do, after they are done and return home. They still have their soft part as women to take care of the family like giving love to their kids by playing with them and breastfeeding them. This is why I added the word "SHENGE"

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

Journalist: Do you have any message do you have for fashion lovers as we end 2023?

I want to tell fashion lovers that fashion has no limit or no borders. Fashion styles change everyday life and even fashion repeats itself. Fashion styles go and always return. Fashion has tons of innovations where people will tell you" Oh this style used to be on hit our young ages" and others " Oh this style used to be on top in our wedding celebrations style"

I also want to ask fashion lovers. Don't limit yourselves in your mind to the point where you feel like there are where you must limit yourselves when you think of what to wear. Just go ahead and be flexible in choosing what to style. I believe if you really love fashion, you love your culture and you are curious to try others, you love to be fun, you love to be respectful, to see your legacy in fashion style, and you love to see yourself happy in your styles.

I am not saying people should leave their cultural values but I am saying we don't have to stick to our own culture when it comes to fashion. I also want to ask the public when you see people wearing their choice of fashion styling. Don't judge the book by its cover. For example, A woman can wear a very short dress and still be kind with a good heart discipline, and even be very intelligent. Allow people to express themselves through their fashion styles.

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

Journalist: Why did you choose to black color? 

Black makes you look fit, black is class, black is beautiful 

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

ALSO READ: Inkanda House Releases Ndabaga Collection

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

NDABAGA SHENGE collection Made by Ikanda House (Photo Inkanda)

"Dear fashion lovers this is your time, there is no other life for you to style. Life is sometimes short. Feel free to wear what you love in this life don't be intimidated by the eyes of those who may judge you. Inkanda House Team we wish you a Happy New Year" Message from Patrick Muhire the CEO and Creative Director of Inkanda House 

 By the RCFS's Media 

"I see a bright and promising future for the fashion industry in Rwanda. With a growing focus on local talent, sustainability, and embracing diverse voices, I envision a dynamic landscape where Rwandan fashion designers gain global recognition, and the industry becomes a hub of innovation, inclusivity, and conscious fashion choices" said the International Model Eveline Gonzenbach  who is working with the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023

The international fashion, beauty, and lifestyle model  Eveline Gonzenbach (Photo Eveline) 

Fashion lovers in Kigali can’t wait to attend the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023. The event will bring together fashion enthusiasts to celebrate made in Rwanda and made in Africa to the world. The event which has started today, it will feature both young and upcoming local fashion designers as well as models.

The most important part of the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 that brings curiosity to the fashion lovers around in Kigali, is the team and participants behind this event. Among them includes the international model  Eveline Gonzenbach who is also among the guest speakers of Today's session that will take place at the IPRC Kigali. 

“This is a great opportunity for the fashion industry in Rwanda to receive a professional international fashion, beauty, and lifestyle model like Ms Eveline Gonzenbach. I believe all those young and upcoming models will run a lot from her which will guide them for their future contracts” Placide Ngirinshuti told the RCFS’s Media.

The international fashion, beauty, and lifestyle model  Eveline Gonzenbach (Photo Eveline) 

 According to the information from the organizers of the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023, the international model will be part of their first edition scheduled this Saturday, 30 December at Century Park Hotel.  During the interview with the RCFS's Media, we have asked Eveline Gonzenbach some questions about the fashion industry in general and what her expectations are from the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023. 

Journalist: Can you share your fashion experience?

I started my modeling career in 2019 in Dubai. I am very proud to have worked for renowned brands such as Huda Beauty, Emirates Palace, La Marquise Jewelry, Ekadot Boutique, Moniritta Design, Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt, and Neoque Magazine.

In summer 2022 I have been selected to join the famous Coco Rocha Model Camp in New York. Models of all age groups and origins intended to learn the secrets of modeling by Coco Rocha herself. This experience was something I did to expand my knowledge in modeling, but also to go out of my comfort zone, gain more confidence, and become a better version of myself.

Journalist:  What are your expectations from the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023?

My expectations from the Gorilla Fashion Week are high, given the incredible talent and creativity that I have witnessed within the fashion community in Kigali.
My hope is that the event will not only inspire fashion enthusiasts but also contribute to the growth and recognition of Rwanda’s fashion industry on a global scale. I anticipate an atmosphere of creativity, collaboration and celebration of the unique spirit that defines fashion in Kigali.

Ultimately, I expect Gorilla Fashion Week to exceed expectations, leaving a lasting impact on both the local fashion scene and the broader industry.

Journalist:  What is your role at the event?

As a model, I am the face behind the brand. The women/men who walk the runway have the power to inspire editors, buyers, and fashion lovers to covet a particular piece. My hope is to contribute to the success and vibrancy of Gorilla Fashion Week 2023.

 The international fashion, beauty, and lifestyle model  Eveline Gonzenbach (Photo Eveline) 

Journalist:  Have you met local fashion designers and models?

Yes, I had the pleasure of collaborating with the talented designer from Umuheto Fashion House. Working closely with him was a remarkable experience that allowed me to immerse myself in their unique and inspiring designs.

Additionally, through various castings and runway trainings, I had the opportunity to connect and build relationships with a diverse array of models. These interactions have not only expanded my professional network but have also fostered a sense of camaraderie within the industry. It’s a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines events like Gorilla Fashion Week, where designers and models come together to create something truly extraordinary.

Journalist:  What can you tell fashion lovers who want to buy tickets to attend the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023?

I would encourage fashion lovers to secure their tickets for Gorilla Fashion Week for an unforgettable experience. The event not only showcases designs and trends but also provides a platform to support local talent and sustainable fashion initiatives.

It’s not just a fashion show, it’s an opportunity to be part of a cultural movement shaping the future of fashion in Kigali and beyond.

The international fashion, beauty, and lifestyle model  Eveline Gonzenbach during the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 press conference (Photo INYARWANDA) 

ALSO READ: TO SUPPORT UPCOMING FASHION DESIGNERS AND MODELS: GORILLA FASHION WEEK 2023

Journalist:  Do you have a message to share with fashion lovers in Africa?

Absolutely! I would like to encourage all fashion lovers to embrace and celebrate the incredible diversity of styles and cultures across the continent. Africa’s fashion is more than just clothing; it’s a reflection of heritage, creativity, and innovation.

Let’s continue to support local designers, sustainable practices, and inclusive representations in fashion. Together we can amplify Africa’s influence on the global fashion stage and inspire a more diverse and vibrant industry for generations to come.

The international fashion, beauty, and lifestyle model  Eveline Gonzenbach (Photo Eveline) 

 By the RCFS's MEDIA

The first edition of the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 is organized in partnership with the IPRC Kigali and the Rwanda Fashion Models Union [RFMU]. The Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 is scheduled for 29th December (at the IPRC Kigali) and on the 30th at Century Park Hotel in Kigali City.

A participant in Today's press conference of the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

In today's brief press conference and updates about the event. According to the organizers, this event aims to support the upcoming local fashion designers as well as the models to showcase their talents in fashion design and modeling.

Hakizimana Hubert Didier -Event Organizer Team member Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

 The organizers continue saying that they started this event after their research which revealed that there are many talented fashion designers and runway models who don't have a platform where to showcase their work and creations. They added that most fashion shows had been organized in Rwanda and fashion programs most focused on those who are professional and already established.

ALSO READ:  Official Launch - What Should Models Expect from the Rwanda Fashion Models Union [RFMU] 

There will be also an exhibition for different vendors of Made in Africa

 It is expected more than 20 fashion designers will showcase their designs with 45 runway models who will present unique fashion styles according to the organizers.

Participants who will be showcasing in the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 during the press conference (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

International Model Eveline GONZENBANCH  during the press conference (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

International Model Eveline GONZENBANCH will showcase at the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 (PHOTO EVeline's Instagram AC)

International Model Eveline GONZENBANCH will showcase at the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 (PHOTO EVeline's Instagram AC)

Mr. Jambo Jean D'Amour- Head of Creative Arts in IPRC Kigali, during the press conference (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

The participant who will be showcasing in the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 during the press conference (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

The participant who will be showcasing in the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 during the press conference (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

The participant who will be showcasing in the Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 during the press conference (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

Hakizimana Hubert Didier -Event Organizer Team member Gorilla Fashion Week 2023 (PHOTO INYARWANDA)

The RFMU is a non-government organization founded by former models headed by Kabano Franco in collaboration with other models with a primary mission of working with models and Agencies to help them in Advocacy, Education, and Promotion. Learn More about the event here

Currently president of the Rwanda Fashion Models Union[RFMU] Mr. Mutabazi Wa Charm who replaced Mr. Kabano Franco who resigned from the leader of this model unions

By the RCFS's Media 

The Utexrwa is the oldest local fabric manufacturer. As the only large-scale textile mill in Rwanda, UTEXRWA plays a critical role in establishing the local textile and apparel value chain, developing a large skilled labor force, contributing to import substitution, and meeting the local demands of security forces and others.

Employee inside the UTEXRWA ( PHOTO- Diana Zeyneb)

 Utexrwa offers its client's mass production from an extensive line of over varieties of garments and made-ups produced from cotton, synthetic and blended fabrics for protective clothing and accessories to meet the needs of everyday wear and tear in the defence, fire fighting, medical, school, commercial, home and industrial workforce, as well as eco-friendly home furnishings to protect you from dust , heat, water and infectious bacteria.

Employee inside the UTEXRWA ( PHOTO- Diana Zeyneb)

Utexrwa buys its cotton from Uganda and Tanzania, its chemicals are from India, dyes from Europe, and Polyester from China, India, and Indonesia, which all drive up costs. The most direct competitors to UTEXRWA are coming from outside Africa. UTEXRWA has advantages in meeting local market demands for customization, timely delivery, and service. Given the investment capital required to start a textile mill in Rwanda, local competition for high-volume garment production is unlikely in the near term.

 According to the management of the UTEXRWA, the primary focus will remain on institutional garment production. Producing at larger volumes allows the company to maximize profits and avoid artisan competitors. Developing a sales campaign and sales force for the school market is essential for the fragmented market share of this segment.

In 2018 the Utexrwa won the Rwanda Defense Force-RDF uniform tender, urged to produce more

UTEXRWA Updates in December 2023

UTEXRWA, Rwanda’s only textile producing company has secured a $400,000 that will facilitate the production of at least 70, 000 malaria bed nets. These will make the company the only textile firm that manufactures the treated bio-nets for local people. “We are ready to produce the first 70,000 nets in two weeks time from now and we produce the second phase in May 2010. Another 70,000 nets.” said Raj Rajendran Utexrwa’s Managing Director in an interview with The New Times.

Employee inside the UTEXRWA ( PHOTO- Diana Zeyneb)

The project has been boosted by support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Bralirwa, and the Ministry of Health which have provided technical and financial support.  Rajendran revealed that the production line has already been installed and technicians have been undergoing training. According to Rajendran, their ultimate target is to invest $12 million in 3-4 years with an aim of employing 2,000 employees from the current 740.

He revealed that the project will have the capacity to produce over 12 million nets per year for local and the export markets. He also said that there is a huge demand on the continent this year and hence Rwanda will have a capacity of producing for local and regional export.

John Peter Moll currently the Thailand Textile Institute advisor, said that UTEXRWA has all it takes to manufacture the nets. Peter Moll was sponsored by UNIDO Rwanda as an expert to offer technical advise. “I’m very confident that Rwanda will be able to run the project and UTEXRWA has good environment for the project as it has been having good progress in its products,” Peter Moll said.

He further said that Rwanda will be the only country to produce long lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINS) which have high demand.

Employee inside the UTEXRWA ( PHOTO- Diana Zeyneb)

By the RCFS's Media 

"Dancers themselves often use fashion to express their unique style and enhance their movements. The right outfit can give them confidence, emphasize their choreography, and even add a narrative to their performance" said CEO and founder of RIFI Entertainment Ri Kon Yocan

This weekend is one of the hottest weekends in Kigali as we are closer to the end of 2023. There are many events scheduled on Saturday, December 30. These events include the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show which will take place at ONOMO Hotel in Kigali.  According to the event manager and CEO and founder of RIFI Entertainment Ri Kon Yocan, his team has already prepared many activities to make people feel happy while celebrating holidays and Happy New Year's.  

Model Nshogoza Jean from the RIFI Fashion Agency in performance at the stage fashion showcase in Marriott Hotel 2023

"We are ready and I want to tell Kigalians especially those who love fashion and dance together that this is your time. Don't miss. We have different activities including an exhibition. Parents bring your children to experience kids modeling" Ri Kon Yocan told the RCFS's Media. 

Ri Kon Yocan CEO  and founder of the RIFI Fashion Agency the winner of Best Agency 2023 

 The RIFI Dance and Fashion show will bring together local fashion designers as well as professional dancers. Models will showcase different styles from different fashion houses while dancers will capture the stage from the different choreographers and make unique moves to match the models while on the runway. It is a new form of event we have in Kigali where the combination of fashion and dance will be seen on the stage.

The RIFI Dance and Fashion Show will bring together fashion designers and dancers  

Normally, fashion and dance have an incredible way of intertwining. The way dancers move can elevate and showcase the beauty of fashion, and vice versa. Dance often inspires fashion, and designers draw inspiration from various dance forms to create stunning clothing that complements movement.

Known DJs, Comedians, and MCs Will be among the performers in the RIFI Dance and Fashion Show 2023

Do you want to be part of their exhibitions?

From 10:00 AM there will be an exhibition, kids' games, and modeling. Then from 6 pm, there will be a runway show and dances.  RIFI Fashion Agency is a youth forum founded by Ri Kon Yocan to help the young generation and promote their modeling talent at a high (international) level through teaching, guiding, and training them towards integrity and good cultural behavior. 

RIFI Fashion Agency models 

 ALSO READ:  RIFI Fashion Agency is the number one modeling agency in Rwanda

RIFI Fashion Agency model

RIFI Fashion Agency models 

RIFI Fashion Agency model

RIFI Fashion Agency model  

RIFI Fashion Agency model

RIFI Fashion Agency models

RIFI Fashion Agency models 

RIFI Fashion Agency models 

 By the RCFS's MEDIA 

"Fashion shows and flowers often share a beautiful relationship that goes beyond mere aesthetics. We created a floral Runway adorned with various types of flowers, where models showcased designs inspired by local fashion designers and made from creativity behind flower decoration. Our setting was in Bk Arena venue adorned with elaborate floral arrangements " said Mr. John Bunyeshuli CEO and founder of the Kigali Fashion Week/Kigali International Fashion Week. 

Designs made by Matheo

Combining a fashion show with flowers can result in a stunning and innovative event as marked by the Kigali International Fashion Week 2023 in BK Arena. The organizers proved that flowers and fashion can help to sell to each other as all share similarities especially bringing income in money to the beneficiaries. 

"Our beneficiaries include farmers who cultivate the flowers, and fashion designers who create the designs as well as the runway models who showcase and present the beauty of flowers and fashion stlyes together" added Mr. Bunyeshuli

Mr. John Bunyeshuli CEO and founder of the Kigali Fashion Week/Kigali International Fashion Week. 

The event was organized in partnership with Bella Flowers and other government institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). 

Designs made by Matheo (PHOTO-IGIHE)

Designs made by Matheo (PHOTO-IGIHE)

 The Bella Flowers' Marketing Manager and Promotions, Maria Casimiro, told the IGIHE newspaper that they started and partnered with the Kigali Fashion Week to mark this fashion and flowers festival hoping to promote and make Rwandans love flowers.

"Flowers are one of the things that can enter in any country because everywhere they are needed to show the beauty of things and nature. This cultural festival mainly aims to encourage Rwandans to grow flowers so that we can be their market in the international market" said Maria Casimiro

Designs made by Matheo (PHOTO-IGIHE)

Designs made by Matheo (PHOTO-IGIHE)

Designs made by Matheo (PHOTO-IGIHE)

Designs made by Matheo (PHOTO-IGIHE)

Inside the BK Arena Venue 

Many people were very happy to see how fashion and flowers are combined to make a good fashion show 

Many people were very happy to see how fashion and flowers are combined to make a good fashion show 

Many people were very happy to see how fashion and flowers are combined to make a good fashion show 

Many people were very happy to see how fashion and flowers are combined to make a good fashion show 

BY THE RCFS'S MEDIA  

As we are enjoying our holidays and preparing for Christmas and a happy new year of 2024. Fashion is one we can't leave behind, especially during family parties and celebrations of different events. In Rwanda, many fashion designers are ready and you can see on their pages many creations and unique creativities. In this story, we have included 50 trending fashion styles between November and  December 2023. From different fashion designers in Rwanda. 

Made by Matheo- Model Franco Kabano

 Let's start with the Matheo fashion brand founded in 2019 by Mr. Niyigena Maurice. Since then it has been bringing new ideas and many fashion lovers have been asking themselves "Where does he get those ideas?". His recent creations raised emotions among fashion lovers around Kigali City, especially for those who use social media platforms like Instagram where Mr. Maurice Niyigena posts his photos. 

Made by Matheo- Model Franco Kabano

"When I see new ideas of Matheo, I wonder where he gets them from. I read one of the articles where he mentioned something about the future warriors. and then, I saw model Franco Kabano wearing his recent styles wondering if they are preparing to film a movie. I don't know about the fabrics but the styles are well-measured and well-made. We all know Franco is among the top supermodels we have in Rwanda, Something is coming up maybe" A fashion enthusiast told the RCFS's Media 

Made by Matheo- Model Franco Kabano

 ALSO READ: I Have Loyalty Inside the Matheo Brand": The Future Warriors Collection 2023 Released

 Other trending fashion styles between November and December 2023 in Rwanda include: 

1. TANGA DESIGNS 

Made by Tanga Designs

Made by Tanga Designs

2. KEZEM 

Made by Kezem 

Made by Kezem

3. INKANDA HOUSE

Made by Inkanda House 

Made by Inkanda House 

4. HOUSE OF TAYO 

Made by the House of Tayo

Made by the House of Tayo 

 5. INZUKI DESIGNS 

Made by Inzuki Designs 

Made by Inzuki Designs  

6. UMUHETO FASHION HOUSE

Made by Umuheto Fashion House 

Made by Umuheto Fashion House 

 7. RWANDA CLOTHING 

Made by Rwanda Clothing 

Made by Rwanda Clothing 

 8. NTARE GITARE 

Made by Ntare Gitare 

Made by Ntare Gitare 

9. UZURI K & Y 

Made by Uzuri K & Y

Made by Uzuri K & Y

10. HAUTE BASO

Made by Haute Baso

Made by Haute Baso 

 11. IZUBAA

Made by Izubaa

Made by Izubaa

12. N'INTOKI 

Made by N'intoki

Made by N'intoki

 13. K'TSOBE

Made by K'tsobe 

Made by K'tsobe 

14. KARSSH COLLECTION 

Made by Karssh Collection 

Made by Karssh Collection 

15. MOSHIONS

Made by Moshions 

Made by Moshions 

16. SONIA MUGABO  

Made by Sonia Mugabo 

Made by Sonia Mugabo 

 17. GLO CREATION

Made by Glo Creation 

Made by Glo Creation  

 18. TOUCH OF RWANDA FASHION DESIGNS 

Made by Touch of Rwanda Fashion Designs 

Made by Touch of Rwanda Fashion Designs 

Made by Touch of Rwanda Fashion Designs 

 19. MILLE COLLINES 

Made by Mille Collines 

Made by Mille Collines

 ALSO READ: 40 RWANDAN FASHION DESIGNERS TO VISIT IN KIGALI - THEIR #INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS

BY THE RCFS'S MEDIA