Local and international models are competing to be on the list of models to headline the inaugural Mercedes Benz Fashion Week slated for May 31 through  June 1, at Kigali Convention Centre.

The casting, held at Century Park Hotel, last weekend, attracted over 200 female and male models, each hoping to be selected to showcase some of the finest fashion collections made by Rwandan and top international designers.

Mercedes Benz Fashion week is rated as one of the biggest fashion week events on the globe, and a number of top models have their sights set on the selection hoping thattaking part in the event would help them build big CVs.

The event is expected to attract over 20 fashion designers from different countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Ghana, Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and the host nation Rwanda, among others.

Danny Ndayishimiye, one of the fashion event organisers, told Saturday Times that bringing the Mercedes Benz Fashion week to Rwanda has for a long time been one of their goals, for the sake of Rwanda’s fashion industry.

 "This is one of, if not, the biggest fashion week event in the world and we are honoured to host such an event on our country. We have been looking to have this event in our country and we are happy it is finally coming. The impact we had in organising successful events, helped us convince them to sponsor this show,” he said.

He noted that different companies were interested in sponsoring the event based on the government’s will to welcome investors to business in the country, its rising growth, development and existing opportunities to do business in Rwanda, besides existing talents, which continue to represent  the country well on the global scene.

"Rwanda is increasingly producing talents in the fashion industry. That is one crucial factor that cemented the sponsors’ interest to bring the concept to Rwanda. We need a lot of models because it is a two-day event and this is a really big opportunity they should never miss,” he said.

According to the organisers, the event is 85 per cent ready, and participants are expected to start arriving in the country this weekend to get ready for the fashion show.

Ndayishimiye added that the team behind the event is not new to Mercedes Benz-sponsored fashion events, having previously been part of the team that organised the same event in Accra, Ghana. He believes that the same team has what it takes to make the event colourful and worthwhile in Rwanda.

"We have been working with Mercedes Benz in different fashion events in Africa for four years before we thought of bringing it here in Rwanda. That gives us motivation and determination that we can make it even more successful in Rwanda,” he said.

"We are a team of professionals with enough experience in fashion event management. I trust my team and am confident that everything will be in place from the beginning to the end of the event. People should expect a colourful fashion show,” he added.

Other highlights of the event will include a display of Mercedes Benz-branded 2019 version cars.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com