Two African elite fashion brands have come together in Soul Exchange, a collaboration between Kigali-based fashion label Sonia Mugabo and Afropian, a Pan-African brand founded by Cameroonian designer Hortense Mbea. The partnership reflects a growing movement among leading African designers to build collectively, exchange creatively, and strengthen the continent’s presence on the global fashion stage. While each brand presents its own collection, the collaboration itself becomes the statement—one that highlights complementarity, mutual respect, and a shared long-term vision for African design. ALSO READ: Rwandan fashion shines at UK King’s Birthday event in Kigali For Sonia Mugabo, collaboration has always been central to her brand’s growth. “Teamwork has been everything for this brand. Even though it carries my name, there are many people behind the scenes who make it what it is today,” she told The New Times. For the designer, collaboration is no longer just an idea but a deliberate direction. “I want to collaborate with like-minded creatives. It’s important to always think about the next generation,” she explains. Founded in 2017 and based in Addis Ababa, Afropian works with artisans from 15 African countries, producing clothing, jewellery, and bags that are 100 percent made in Africa. For Hortense Mbea, working with her Rwandan counterpart through Soul Exchange represents alignment rather than coincidence. “We are both soulful designers producing thoughtful pieces, so it was an easy and natural collaboration,” she says. The idea for the partnership took shape after Mbea’s first encounter with Kigali for the Threads of Africa Fashion Show which took place on the sidelines of Giants of Africa 2025. “My collection was warmly received by the city. I wanted to come back and properly introduce myself. What better way than through this collaboration with Sonia?” she says. ALSO READ: Kigali Fashion Week set for comeback under new management The concept The name Soul Exchange speaks directly to that intention that the two designers have shown. “She’s coming from Ethiopia, I’m from Rwanda. It’s about where our souls meet and intertwine,” Sonia explains. While the brands are currently showcasing their individual collections, the meaning of the collaboration runs deeper. “For Afropian, it means building each other mutually with our individual strengths,” Mbea says. “My pieces draw inspiration from across the continent. Africa is my source of inspiration. I tell African stories, and even the materials or beads I use carry meaning—they tell stories of their own.” Both designers emphasize that collaboration among African creatives must be purposeful. The partnership coincided with Sonia Mugabo’s relocation to her new showroom at Gishushu after a decade in her previous space. “I had been in the same space for 10 years, and you get to a point where you feel like you’re outgrowing it,” she explains. Sonia Mugabo says growth made the move inevitable, adding that one of the reasons for expanding was to create room for collaborations like Soul Exchange with Afropian.
