Rwanda Fashion Week (RWF), formerly (CollectiveRW Fashion Week), is back with an array of local and international designers to showcase their unique collections. In its 4th edition, the four-day fashion extravaganza kicked off on June 5, with a press conference, media tour, and master classes for models. The finale and highlight of the fashion show is slated for tomorrow, June 8. The annual event is organised by CollectiveRW, and aims at strengthening, promoting and developing Rwanda’s fashion industry by fostering talent, originality and representation locally, as well as on the African content and abroad. According to Moses Twahirwa, founder and creative director of Moshions, and member of CollectiveRW, the fashion week was changed to Rwanda Fashion Week after it was endorsed by Rwanda Development Board and granted the right to use the name. The finale will feature a number of international designers like Emmanuel Okoro, founder of Emmy Nesbit, a Nigerian fashion brand, Adebayo Oke-Lawale founder of Orange Culture, Lisa B. Marler, Sunny Dolat, co-founder of The Nest Collective, and co-founder of HEVA Fund, Africa’s first creative business fund. Emmanuel Okuro, the creative director of Emmy Nesbit, said the event is a great opportunity for designers to showcase their collections, while also expanding African fashion scene. “I look forward to seeing the other designers as we all continue to push African fashion forward and seeing designers coming from other parts of Africa together with this platform. I’m really excited about seeing what other designers have because I’ve only seen them on social media, but this time round I get to see their show live and feel their clothes,” he said. Founded in 2015, CollectiveRW is composed of Rwandan-based fashion designers House of Tayo, Inzuki, Sonia Mugabo, Haute Baso, Moshions, Amizero, and Uzi Collections who collaborate to support, promote and develop the local and regional creative scene. As it is every year, the venue of the runway show changed. This year it will be held at the University of Rwanda, School of architecture and Built Environment, and for Twahirwa, organisers are particularly excited about the venue as the architectural designs will get to complement the creativity of the designers. This year’s show will also feature local designers from CollectiveRW, together with other designers, including Maison Munezero, Uzi Collections, K’tsobe, Maison Aline and the winners of ArtRwanda- Ubuhanzi, competition. “We had a team that selected, but the criterion is mostly the quality and creativity, which is the highlight. We, however, don’t forget the emerging designers that we have from ArtRwanda- Ubuhanzi, the winners who will be able to showcase their work,” Twahirwa said. Aline Mwizerwa, founder of Maison Aline, an emerging fashion brand, said it is an honour for her brand to be a part of a high-end team and learn from the best. editor@newtimesrwanda.com
