Webinar Registration

RCFS WEBINAR: COLLABORATION IS A KEY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY IN RWANDA

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OVERVIEW

Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS) is a forum for local and international fashion designers to showcase their designs. Celestin Ntawirema founded RCFS in 2013. The RCFS will on March 30, hold a virtual conference during which players in the fashion industry will discuss the current state of the Rwandan fashion industry and will discuss the collaboration between fashion stakeholders.

February 28, 2023, from 10am to 1pm, RCFS hosted an open webinar on the future of the fashion industry in Rwanda. Guests’ speakers included the president of the Berwa Rwanda Federation (fashion &beauty), Ms. Dukuzumuremyi Marie Chantal, president of Rwanda Designers Association, Ms Karen Uwera, Mr Eddie Nsabimana, a journalist at The New Times, president of Rwanda Fashion Models Union (RFMU), Mr Willy Mutabazi, Franco Kabano, CEO & Founder Webest Models Management, different media journalists and fashion stakeholders in general. During the discussion, the words “uniqueness” “quality” and “Collaboration” came back many times which caught our tension to prepare another webinar about how collaboration among fashion stakeholders can be a key to the development of the Rwanda fashion industry.

The webinar will bring together different stakeholders of the fashion industry to share experiences and discuss how private and public institutions can support Rwanda’s growing fashion industry. The webinar will include discussions which will be in the form of a series of a thought-provoking panel.

Keynote speakers of the event will include renowned fashion designers, fashion promoters, modeling agencies, experts in textiles, and some government representatives from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Private Sector Federation (PSF), Ministry of Youth and Culture (MYCULTURE), Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy (RCHA), Rwanda Arts Council (RAC) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM).

OBJECTIVES

To establish collaboration between fashion stakeholders in Rwanda
To strengthen communication between institutions that support the arts and creative industry specifically the fashion sector
To put together people in the fashion industry and promote new talents and help them to have access to the platform which can guide them toward their dreams.
To create a space for developing and exploring creativity in designing clothes, new styles, and forms.
Purpose

To reinforce the collaboration between fashion agencies in the Rwandan fashion industry and work together to recover from Covid-19’s impacts on this fashion industry.

Events Details

Where: Zoom App

Date: Thursday, 30th March, 2023

Time: 10am to 12:30pm

BACKGROUND FASHION AND MODELING AGENCIES IN RWANDA

rwanda PHOTO: Models with fashion designers at the Chez Lando hotel after a 1-day conference organized by the RCFS in partnership with the Rwanda Academy of Language and Culture (RALC) and Private Sector Federation (PSF) in 2020

The Rwanda Fashion Industry has been through different ups and downs, but it kept developing because fashion is part of our culture and who we are. It was a long way to go, and many thanks to the fashion agencies in collaboration with public institutions who made it possible and put more effort to fashion fun and memories. Through various events like Kwita Izina Ceremony and the Visit Rwanda campaign, we have seen different superstars purchasing products from local designers that make the Rwandan flag stand in Western countries. It is fifteen years now when Rwandan entrepreneurs continue to invest in Fashion and Modeling businesses.

PHOTO: Models and fashion designers at UTEXIRWA with the RCFS team after the Kigali Fashion Tour 2020 organized by the RCFS in partnership with SAMSUNG 4G –Rwanda and UTEXIRWA LTD

Rwanda is doing its best to promote locally-made products like other African countries. The government continues to develop the business sector by encouraging entrepreneurs to promote made-in-Rwanda products in fashion, modeling, and textiles.

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PHOTO: Models at the Hotel des Milles Collines showcasing Fathia Creations at the RCFS 2015, 3^rd Edition

In 15 years ago, many things happened in the Rwanda fashion industry. For example, we have more than 20 known and established fashion designers. We also have more than ten (10) modeling agencies; more than five (5) textiles and manufacturing industries across the country. We also have about five (5) big annual fashion shows in the country.

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PHOTO: Models showcasing culture outfits at the RCFS 2018 at Kigali Cultural Village (KCV), 8^th Edition

Even though things seem to be working with the fashion industry, models and upcoming fashion designers struggle to join the fashion scene as they continue pushing their businesses and pursuing their dreams.

One of the reasons that is blocking good performance and creating these struggles to fashion stakeholders in Rwanda, is the lack of collaboration and communication. Instead of working as a team, fashion designers and models work as serious competitors even though Rwanda’s fashion sector doesn’t have much to offer at the moment. Furthermore, the covid-19 pandemic impacted fashion entrepreneurs, both fashion designers and models because fashion events were canceled and postponed. The pandemic also affected fashion designers who used to offer advertisement jobs to the runway models.

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PHOTO: Kids models at the RCFS 2018, Kigali Cultural Village, 8^thEdition

Conclusion

The RCFS is much more concerned about the development of the fashion industry in Rwanda and it wants to reinforce “collaboration” among fashion and modeling agencies as well as engaging government institutions to support the arts and creative industry in Rwanda. That is why the RCFS sees collaboration as the key to this development as we continue to build a stronger fashion sector. The outcomes from the described above will spotlight the key considerations, and the recommendations will be put into reality.

WEBINAR OVERVIEW

The RCFS webinar will include discussions which will be in the form of a series of thought- provoking panel discussions about the textiles and fashion industry in Rwanda and Africa. It is scheduled on Friday, 28th February 2023, from 10: 00 am to 12:15 am (GMT-KIGALI).

It is organized by the RCFS 2023. Keynote speakers will include fashion designers, fashion promoters, journalists, experts in textiles and fabric dyeing, fashion school teachers, and some government representatives to discuss “Made in Rwanda value”.

Questions to consider during our discussions: