PHOTOS: Runway, rap and streetwear at 'Strive Lab'

From oversized silhouettes to graphic tees and sneakers, streetwear has become closely tied to hip-hop culture. Kigali brand STRIVE.TNS explored that connection through STRIVE LAB, bringing fashion, music and art together at this year’s I Am Hip Hop Festival. Held at Institut Français on August 26, the event drew creatives, fashion enthusiasts, artistes and culture lovers for an afternoon of live garment customization, runway presentations, music and interactive experiences. ALSO READ: Ijezi designer Tayo on ‘the cost of fashion copycats’ At the heart of STRIVE LAB was the brand’s “Take No Shortcuts” philosophy, which values the work, consistency and time behind lasting success. “To build a strong creative community around the STRIVE brand, we had to do this platform for youth expression and creativity, and merge fashion, art, and music culture into one experience,” a STRIVE representative said. ALSO READ: Sonia Mugabo, Ethiopian brand join forces to expand African fashion craft The format gave visitors an active role in the experience. Guests could bring their own garments for free customization or select pieces provided at the event. STRIVE designers created pieces live using screen printing, heat pressing, fabric graphics and live painting, allowing participants to leave with one-of-one garments. Sustainability was another part of the concept through the STRIVE Spin, a clothing exchange game. Participants brought quality clothing items for inspection and, once approved, spun a wheel to determine which STRIVE item they would receive in exchange. ALSO READ: Eight Hip-Hop projects defining 2026 so far Accepted items included T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, shirts and sweatshirts. The event also featured a STRIVE pop-up shop with collections, festival exclusives, accessories and limited-edition pieces. Visitors could take part in a Fit Check experience, where stylists put together complete looks before professional photographs were taken. The looks could then be shared with audiences for categories including Best Fit, Crowd Favorite, Best Styling and Best Pose. Music remained central to the afternoon. DJs Dax and Gulain kept the crowd moving from the event's opening until 7 p.m., when STRIVE shifted the focus to a runway presentation showcasing new pieces from the brand. The runway was followed by a performance from Rwandan rapper RoMeo Rapstar, with models moving around him in pieces from the Ahazaza V2.0 collection, a new camouflage drop designed for men and women. STRIVE and RoMeo Rapstar have collaborated before. The original “Ahazaza” collection was developed with the rapper, who is also part of the roster of Green Ferry Music, the team behind the I Am Hip Hop Festival. After the runway, the event moved back to the music stage, where RoMeo Rapstar was joined by Slum Drip, Darkello, Yannick YT, Ing Div, Industrious and Icenova, among other performers. The STRIVE LAB experience kicked off a wider I Am Hip Hop program featuring more than 35 rappers, masterclasses and opportunities for creatives to collaborate.

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PHOTOS: Runway, rap and streetwear at 'Strive Lab'