One of Rwanda’s leading fashion brands, Moshions, completed a three-day exhibition yesterday during which its latest collection was launched. The exhibiting of the Spring/Summer ’22 collection, titled ‘Imandwa,’ reinvents Africa’s traditional aesthetic appearance in world-class tailoring and is designed to celebrate ancestors’ fashion freedom. The launch took place in Kigali at Atelier. “I am excited to present this project. It is a true manifestation of how our ancestors lived without limits and labels. Every ‘Imandwa’ item was made with a strong consideration of the environment,” said Moses Turahirwa, the founder of Moshions, who recently earned his Master’s degree in collection design. Moshions also hosted an expert-level panel discussion on fashion education and a creative photography workshop – both led by industry professionals – over the course of the three-day exhibition. The sessions were designed to engage youth and provide them with information to help them explore the creative sector. “I am happy to be here since I am experiencing a renaissance that’s influencing culture in conversations and gender. People’s roles have to be re-defined, which is what Moshions is doing and honoring our culture in a way that we are all seen and understood,” said Polfliet Mukantabana, a designer from New York who attended the exhibition. “It feels spiritual and emotional to me because the entire collection is full of Rwandan culture, love, art, and a lot of vulnerabilities. It has taught me that reaching far is always a long journey for us artists,” said Ariel Ways, a renowned Rwandan musician. “It’s fairly obvious from glancing at the exhibition that he put effort and time into it. This should remind all artists that we still have a long way to go and a lot to learn. She went on to say, “I learned a lot, and a big congratulations to Moses and the Moshions in general.” The fashion exhibition was attended by industry professionals and key players from around the world. According to Turahirwa, it presents an opportunity to learn about the future of Rwanda’s fashion industry and exchange ideas for growth. The Imandwa Collection exhibition will be available to the public on November 8 - 9 from 6:30 pm to 9 pm at Atelier. COVID-19 guidelines will be observed.
