‘Fashion Experience’ to showcase local designs

Fashion lovers in Kigali will be treated to a dazzling event at Hotel Villa Portofino, Nyarutarama, on July 28, as designers showcase their garments. Dubbed ‘Fashion Experience’, the event was organised by Cretos Creations, a textile wholesale start-up that produces brand new ‘ready-to-wear’ and modern fashion outfits. The spectacular evening is where style and creativity merge, and will feature collections by local fashion designers. Jacqueline Hellevik Mugabushaka, the brain behind the event, said the models will showcase different brand new and well finished locally manufactured outfits by the wholesaler’s designers. “The idea came up after realising that Rwandan business people order tones of fashion garments and spend huge amounts of money on shipping and on the style themselves. This inspired me to organise such an event to show them even a local textile wholesale factory can offer high quality products of modern designs, accessible for a large cross-generational public and at lower prices than international brands,” she said. Mugabushaka, who has also been a fashion model in Europe, is convinced there are good professional tailors in Rwanda who have enough skills to produce fashion designs that can challenge the international market. Her products are created from modern concepts and manufactured by a professional team of qualified and experienced tailors who can deliver a production capacity of at least 250 items per day while they target to offer high volumes of fashion products in all sizes. The fashion varieties expected to be showcased at the fashion show were made out of raw material fabrics from Europe, especially from Belgian, German and Dutch suppliers to ensure the quality of their manufactured products. “We want to be part of this growing fashion industry as long as we have able and active fashion personalities around. It would not be fair to see Rwandans buy clothes from foreign markets at very big prices while we can have the same quality of their demand within their reach at lower prices and without taking much time waiting for them. We want to relieve this burden from them,” she said. The increasing orders from foreign countries and the appreciation for her latest outfits have motivated her to even do better. She believes that the upcoming fashion event can become a revelation of not only Cretos creations, but also Rwanda’s fashion industry. “I am confident that the clothes we do can compete on the international market, given the feedback we get from the foreign community who purchase our collections. But, what I want most is for us to be able to first dominate the local market until the world learns that a Rwandan textile maker can make the best modern fashion, I have that dream,” she said. Experienced local models will showcase the collections on the runway, and music will be provided by singer Marina. Entrance fee for the show is Rwf5000. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

Lifestyle

‘Fashion Experience’ to showcase local designs