During the Covid-19 pandemic, some enterprises found the opportunity to move ahead through online business. Ikamba Apparel is one of them. This has been an opening for three young students to follow their passion and dream. Ikamba Apparel is a recently launched Made in Rwanda clothing brand with a touch of Vogue and a taste for African design, founded by Gratia Teta, Deborah Mwanganjye, and Kessy Mugabo Kayiganwa from African Leadership University (ALU). The trio shared the same passion, which eventually united them as business partners. They are all doing international business trade at ALU. The brand caters for all age groups as well as targeting both middle and high-class clothing style; represented via a blend of classy and streetwear. Some of the designs by Ikamba Apparel. “We were inspired by our love for fashion and the zeal to create quality clothes made in our motherland,” says Teta, one of the founders. The trio’s lifelong mission is to inspire fellow girls and women to pursue their dreams, despite the numerous setbacks. Starting out They launched their brand a month ago when they released their first collection titled, “Ishema Rishya Collection”. According to the group, the rationale behind the name was to inform their clients of something new to complement their style and crown it as per their motto “We Crown Your Style”. “We also wanted to present creative ways of personalising clothes, we wanted the Rwandan buyers and foreigners to be proud of the new style we introduced,” says Teta. Kayiganwa says they anticipate releasing a new collection after every three months, and get their own space to employ more workers as well, go worldwide i.e., shipping to reach more Rwandans and foreigners outside the country. So far, the group has already created job opportunities for some women and girls. Moving forward, they say their goal is to create innovative clothing for the Rwandan population and beyond. “As a group, we aim to contribute to the Made in Rwanda growth and impact, and provide accessibility and quality all in one. As well as to be part of solution providers for the growing rate of unemployment,” adds Mwanganjye. Ikamba Apparel looks into training and enhancing the skills and values of girls and women, to believe in themselves and start new things regardless of their age.
