The Kigali Fashion Week returns for its eighth edition. It is the country’s longest running fashion event, started as a platform to promote local designs. This year’s edition seeks to promote African fashion brands.

It will take place from June 21- 23 and will feature workshops, a grand finale, and a designers’ pop-up shop, at the Cleopatra Bar and Restaurant, Kigali Serena Hotel and Ubumwe Grand Legacy hotel in Kigali. This year’s theme is Creative Africa.

“Rwanda is chairing the African Union, so we decided to work with African designers,” said John Bunyeshuri, the event’s founder.

Some of the designers to be featured this year aree Sol and Wax from Switzerland, Rwanda’s Ferooz Chris, D'zoyal Creations, Delphine's Fashion House, Uwamahoro Delphine, Inkanda House and Rupari designs.

Others are Mary Angel, Elite designs and Turuso from Burundi, Amami from Italy, Uganda’s Kante Christabel, Esther Creations from Nigeria, Real Manembe and TMP Empire from USA and Germany’s Sahorn among others.

The event will also feature over 40 models from Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Uganda.

Having started out as a locally based event, which pioneered regular fashion shows, the Kigali Fashion Week went beyond borders by first partnering with Burundi Fashion Week then with the Kampala Fashion Week and Kenya’s Nairobi Fashion Consortium.

In 2017, it partnered with the Mercedes Benz African Fashion Festival in Accra, Ghana.

The event has steadily grown and attracts designers and models from different countries, sponsors and partners like the Private Sector Federation (PSF), Mutzig Beer, Ubumwe Grand Hotel, Kigali Natural Hair Saloon, Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show, Cleopatra Bar and Restaurant among others.

Last year’s edition of Kigali Fashion Week focused on contemporary designs from Rwanda, the region, and internationally.

Mr Bunyeshuri said the event has not only brought together local and foreign designers, but also inspired the rise of the Kigali International Fashion Week, which has seen some local and international Rwandan designers and models going on a European Tour.

“It’s a pleasure being featured in the Kigali Fashion Work, especially for networking, promotion, exposure and business,” said Marie Angel Kundusenge, a 16-year-old Burundian designer, who is gracing the event for the first time.

Challenges

The recent introduction of Made In Rwanda campaign, which emphasises the production and promotion of locally home-made products has affected some local manufacturers.

With the establishment of the Rwanda Fashion Designers Association, which operates under the Private Sector Federation since 2016, there is hope of promoting local fashion brands.

“Various forms of advocacy have been carried out by local designers, which has helped curbing of taxation on imported raw materials used in designing, ” said Carol Uwera, a representative from the Association.