RCFS

TARAMA Rwanda Summit & Festival

Saturday, 17 June 2023 13:52

taramaslide

Tarama Rwanda, in collaboration with a diverse range of esteemed individuals, institutions, and embassies, is proud to present the Tarama Rwanda Summit and Festival. This event will take place at the Mundi Center ( Rwandex ) from 11 Am to Midnight on the 22nd of July 2023.

The Tarama Rwanda Summit and Festival will unfold in two exceptional sections, designed to unleash the immense potential of Rwanda's creative and cultural industries. The summit will bring together 600+ inspiring collectives of youth, renowned and emerging artists, visionary entrepreneurs, government and non-government institutions, and esteemed delegates from across the globe. This gathering aims to foster human capacity building through engaging sessions, wherein participants will exchange insights on how the arts and entrepreneurship can effectively contribute to Rwanda's economic development by nurturing and amplifying its wealth of talent. Spanning an array of themes, the summit will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers who will share their invaluable experiences in their respective disciplines.

Complementing the summit, the Tarama Rwanda Festival will be a showcasing platform for talents across various artistic domains. From captivating music performances and side-splitting comedy acts to awe-inspiring fashion shows, dances, exhibitions, and much more. This is the moment when Rwandan Super artists will ignite the stage, setting it ablaze with their unmatched talent, leveling up the entire Rwanda entertainment industry, and spreading inspiration and Joy.

By attending both the summit and the festival, you'll become an integral part of an exceptional movement, contributing not only to the success of this remarkable event but also to the nurturing and empowerment of Rwanda's emerging talents.

We eagerly await your presence at the Tarama Rwanda Summit and Festival, where minds will ignite, talents will flourish, and Rwanda's future will shine brighter than ever before.

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Shyaka Yvan

Monday, 23 January 2023 17:03

Shyaka Yvan is 22 years old and from the Uno fashion agency based in Kigali-Rwanda. He started modeling in 2020. Attended fashion show events such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week- Kigali 2022 and UNO Fashion shows Caliente Elverano.

He said “ My dream is to attend New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and Milan Fashion Week. I want to be a role model for other young people in modeling in my country. Since day one started my family has been supporting me and I am very proud of that. Many comments encourage me and many tell me how I am getting better and better. I want to thank my management, I believe and I am expecting bright my future”

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Hortence Gakwaya

Monday, 23 January 2023 16:47

Hortence Gakwaya is 20 years old and from the Uno fashion agency based in Kigali-Rwanda. She started modeling in 2019. Attended fashion show events such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week- Kigali 2022, UNO Fashion shows Caliente Elverano, and the Opama Design Fashion show.

She said “ My dream Is to become a top model, and also to make my career known across Africa” “ Due to the good result, I've been receiving positive comments from people about my modeling journey since the start. According to the courage and the love I have for this career. In addition to the support, I have from my management, I believe and I am expecting good results and to be the best female model in my future”

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O'poma

Friday, 13 May 2022 09:44

O’POMA LTD OBJECTIVES, MISSION, AND VISION

With a view to promoting African fabric and African creativity in this magnificent artistic universe of fashion, O’POMA DESIGN offers you its knowledge by making high-quality African loincloth clothing for women, men and children in order to celebrate together the beauty and richness of African fashion.

OBJECTIVES

To gain visibility on social media to promote our product
To participate in different fashion events in order to conquer the fashion industry
Improve our workforce by employing professional and performing personnel
To open an online shopping boutique to facilitate customers' orders even when they are abroad
Diversify the activities of the company, open to different sectors than the fashion industry
Create different branches of the company all over the continent

MISSION

We want to propose to our client products like clothes of excellent quality by choosing the best materials possible; valorize African fashion and culture through our products and help our customers to choose “made in Africa” products.

VISION

To make O’poma a reference to African fashion by becoming a leader in the tissue market and African fashion industry.

CONTACTS

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone:(+250)72541588

SOCIAL MEDIA

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RCFS 2020 Webinar

Monday, 23 November 2020 21:21

THE FUTURE OF FASHION INDUSTRY IN AFRICA

RCFS 2020 WEBINAR OVERVIEW

The RCFS webinar will include the discussions which will be in the form of a series of thought-provoking panel discussions about the textiles and fashion industry in Africa. The webinar is entitled “The Future of Fashion Industry in Africa” and the topic is; How can Private and Public Institutions Support Africa’s Growing Fashion Industry? It is scheduled on Friday, 18th December 2020, from 10:30am to11:30am (GMT-KIGALI).

It is organized by the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS2020). Keynote speakers will include fashion designers, fashion promoters, experts in textiles and fabric dyeing, fashion school teachers and some governments representatives to discuss “Made in Africa value”. Made in Africa is a journey of fashion industry about 20 years ago. It was the revolution of the textiles and fashion industry on the continent which the RCFS sees as an example for the Africans and friends of Africans to feel the pride from our various cultures in styling.

RCFS was founded in 2012. The main goal of the RCFS is to promote fashion designers and create public awareness of the talent and quality designs in Africa. Since we began, Africans men and women have been promoted through the RCFS events. We provide assistance in marketing, promotion and branding especially for the upcoming fashion designers who are starting small businesses in fashion. According to the examples from the RCFS’s 8 years’ experience, many brands from all over the continent had been established and some are now selling even on the international fashion markets. This is a magnificent step shows that the African fashion industry had made achievement in short time. Africa has
few fashion schools comparing to the countries where modern fashion is coming from like in the USA, India and Europe etc… However, many African fashion designers had been invited to showcase in Western and Europe fashion weeks.

Another example, there are several continental initiatives which are supporting the African fashion industry to develop and sell their products. The Fashionomics Africa initiative of the African Development Bank, together with the African Union, the AfroChampions initiative, and other institutional partners and private operators, launched the Pan-African Fashion initiative on 9 February during the recent AU meetings in Addis Ababa. There are many other examples of some countries where governments stepped in to support the textiles and fashion industry. This prove that the achievement of the textiles and fashion industry in Africa is worthy it. Ethiopia is one of the countries that stepped in with special plans and many countries can learn from this country. Textile and apparel is one of the sectors that has received a lot of attention from the government and the objective is to become sourcing destinations of the world.

Today, the fashion and textile industry in Ethiopia clearly identifies the country as the next hub for manufacturing and exports in the African Chapiter. since the early 2000s, textile and apparel business began The Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS2020), the 8th edition to grow. There as some reports show that there were less than 20 firms in 1991, which increased to above 80 in 2012 and nearly 110 in 2013, reaching around 130 medium- and large-scale factories today. According to academic literature, Staritz et al. (2016) apparel exports from Ethiopia have increased impressively, jumping almost eightfold from US$9m in 2009 to US$68m in 2014, and Yost and Shields (2017) suggest that export earnings have grown from US$60m to US $160m in the last five years, and the government has a target to reach US$1bn by 2020.

ETIDI (2016) Pan-African Fashion initiative is a platform for stakeholder engagement, dialogue, strategy and policies to advance the African fashion industry within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to remove trade barriers between African nations and thus expand intra-Africa trade by about $35 billion per year. Intra-African imports and exports currently account for just 15% of all trade on the continent. According to the African Development Bank, demand for African textiles and garments is increasing globally, and African patterns are gaining international recognition as fashionable and iconic pieces, with international fashion houses now integrating more and more African influences in their latest collections. As President Zewde stated: “Globally, Africa’s cultural colours and clothing are increasingly being embraced.” Even if, the industry is growing. There are some serious challenges which many countries have to be aware about which will help them continue to plan how to respond to new issues in the fashion industry. It is been 3 years ago, when the RCFS had been doing a research to identify even more important and necessary steps for countries to follow to be able to strengthen the future fashion industry and to respond to the challenges the industry is facing.

PURPOSE
In some ways, we have to think about this already made achievements in the textiles and Africa fashion industry as the motivator but also to teach us the lesson from the past challenges. Many countries had been raising some questions such as “who can design “and “who can sell local made cloth “and “who promotes fashion?” “who can basically support fashion sector?” The RCFS is organizing this is webinar to contribute for some answers to these questions together with the speakers. We also value public fashion discussions which will bring new ideas for the future styling and fashion business in Africa. This webinar will educate and inspire conversations about evolutions within the fashion industry and developments in regards to culture and sustainability in fashion. The upcoming fashion designers and others departments attached to fashion event in Africa such as fashion
communicators, fashion content creators and established fashion organizations (fashion councils) and runway models who still have a long way journey to go. They need guidance, they need rules and regulations to support their work to achieve their dreams.

WEBINAR SPEAKERS

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Ikirezi Fashion

Thursday, 09 July 2020 12:45

IKIREZI FASHION STYLE (IFS) is a fashion tv show to talk about the fashion industry and how it really works and evolves the audience. It is a platform for local and international fashion designers to showcase their designs. It is founded and managed by the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS). Read more (RCFS)

The IFS gives the audience a view behind the scenes of one of the most inspiring fashion designers in Rwanda and Africa as a whole. Our mission is to contribute to the development of the fashion industry in Rwanda especially the “Made In Rwanda campaign in the fashion sector”.

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The IFS stimulates local designers in the community and creates a space for developing and exploring creativity in designing clothes, new styles and forms.

The IFS aims to create an opportunity for different artists in clothing design through the reality fashion TV shows such as manufactures, fashion designers, retailers, supplies, education institution , fashion schools and textile industries.

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IKIREZI FASHION STYLE’s Goals
- To promote fashion designers and create public awareness and the talent and quality designs in Rwanda and Africa as a whole.
- To take the fashion business in Rwanda to the next level.
- To equip professional designers with skills and networking opportunities.
- To promote cultural tourism based on clothing designing.

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What to expect at IKIREZI FASHION STYLE?

During the fashion TV show (IFS), our audience is able:
- To watch the fashion industry news and new perspectives, insights and valuable connections about the fashion industry and its markets.
- To find where to buy the quality designs and new collections in the country.
- To learn how to style some new collections from a variety of cultures and different brands.
- To be entertained by the upcoming and professional runway models from different local and international modeling agencies and fashion show events.

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The show is every Saturdays from 6 pm to 7 pm, on ISIBO TV which is a high-quality video production company that specializes in recorded and live-streaming video content. The TV station is based in the city of Kigali, Kicukiro District.

To advertise in the show contact +250 788 514 754 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Speakers

Tuesday, 27 August 2019 10:56

CELESTIN

celestin

Celestin Ntawirema is a proud juggler of many talents and passions; he is a singer and dancer, a poet, painter, an events organiser, photographer and filmmaker, cultural tourism and fashion entrepreneur, to mention but a few.

But of all these callings, none appeals to his sentimental side than singing and dancing. To him, this is the best way to express and explore his cultural side. As a dancer, he specializes in the Itorero and Intore traditional dance forms.

Today, he is Managing Director of IRIs pro-films 1000 hills, the owner of the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS). The company was founded in 2012. He founded his own film production company, IRIS PRO Films, with the express objective of doing photography and documentary films, as opposed to cinematic films.

After 1 year later, he founded the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show which is a forum for local and international fashion designers as well as the models. RCFS is strategically placed to support and strengthen sustainable fashion, creative business development in textiles and manufacturing industries in Rwanda and Africa.

As a fashion entrepreneur and broker, Ntawirema has invested time, energy and effort in honing his skills: He attended different workshops on fashion all over the world. Such as the Hong Kong Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Singapore Fashion Weeks and the Dubai Fashion Week. Celestin has a bachelor's degree of Art in Communications, from the Southern New Hampshire University in the United State of America.

Celestin is striving to create opportunities for artists to thrive professionally in the country by supporting artistic projects and organizing workshops, fashion shows, and sharing knowledge with the art community in Rwanda.

MOISE

Moses Turahirwa

“It’s funny when I think about how I got here. Here, in the fashion industry. I hold a degree in Water and Sanitation Engineering. We can both agree that it has nothing to do with fashion design.

When in university, I walked up to doorsteps of the class with a sound conviction that every session had little to do with my dream career. Never had I imagined fixing people’s problems with a pair of pliers or spanners. My vision lingered in realms of fashion. My passion and whims to pursue this vision fired up everyday into flames no one could put out. I now create solutions with a pair of scissors.

Growing up, I was surrounded by effervescent tailors from my family. I observed as their ingenious and textured subsequently come alive on the production table. My mother joined in as she exercised her mastery of knitting woolen tablecloths and sofa covers. It was so fulfilling to watch. The grit, the ken, and the fun of men and women whose creativity was not confined in a small room they operated in.

Though I had a little chance to play on their sewing machines, I was no stranger to the rhythm of stitches on fabrics; needles on apparels; hot charcoal iron on finished pieces. Not to mention their glances on posters with African models in famous kitenge designs for reference. It was an arduous but satisfying process. A whole vibe.

As time flew by, there’s something my family seemed to have passed on to me. Something I strongly resonated with: Creativity.

In 2015, it was undeniably evident that creativity had become a companion. It sent me to places of discovery, even self-discovery. It helped me rewrite style concepts in Rwanda through a wide range of categories: Bespoke, made-to-measure, ready-to-wear, and cultural designs. Creativity set Moshions in motion, and became its time-machine. A time-machine that reintroduces Rwanda’s cultural accents and plugs it to the contemporary world; building a timeless embrace of class and shared heritage.

At Moshions, we take time to make every customer experience the best of the fashion world. We exchange ideas with openness, respect, and crisp attention to details. We’re not just passionate about making clothes; we envision building a legacy that celebrates each identity. Every collection mirrors Africa’s resplendence and honors enthusiasts from around the world.

I have been part of this industry for quite a long time. I watched it grow into the unshakable empire it is now. Being part of such a promising paradigm makes me dream and work hard. I’m grateful for available opportunities. It’s my wish to inspire generations to unleash their abilities irrespective of their backgrounds.

To me, every minute is a resounding chance to have a solid impact on the state of fashion. I owe it to you and my family.” – Moise Turahirwa.

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Kigali Business Center to host Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show 2019

Tuesday, 20 August 2019 00:46

While the countdown is on the move, it is now confirmed that the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show 2019 is collaborating with Kigali Business Centre (KBC) to host its 7th edition, starting from 5th to 7th September. KBC is a landmark commercial building located literally across the iconic Kigali Convention Center and the Radisson Blu Hotel and Kigali Heights. It will provide approximately 4,000 m2 of high-quality office space in a building and work environment that will easily attract international brands, high-end local brands due to the quality, design and location of the property.

Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show is an annual fashion event to celebrate the designers of Rwanda and Africa using materials from the African continent and drawing upon African culture. This year's events include a fashion tour, the annual fashion show, and our first-ever conference. The theme of the conference, "Designed in Africa, Made in Rwanda," is a series of thought-provoking panel discussions about the fashion industry in Rwanda and East Africa. Keynote speakers will include fashion designers, fashion lovers and a Rwanda government representative to discuss the "Made in Rwanda" campaign.

The countries that will be represented include; Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South, Sudan, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya,…. The official sponsor of the event is Samsung 4 Square.

Book your ticket: https ://www.rcfs.rw/rwanda-cultural-fashion-show-book-tickets

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What to expect at Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show in September

Saturday, 03 August 2019 09:36

The countdown is on! The Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS) is back, and it’s billed to be bigger and better.

The three-day show will take place from September 5-7. The schedule will include many familiar faces and brands returning to the RCFS runway, including local and international fashion designers. The show is expected to attract different players in the fashion industry for the multi-faceted event.

Last weekend, the annual fashion show organizers began auditioned aspiring and professional models, who will showcase the latest fashion trends during the grand event on September 7, at Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village.

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The casting exercise attracted over 200 models from different local agencies across, but only 40 were selected for the event.

Celestin Ntawirema, the brains behind the show, told The New Times, that this year’s event will be like no other, and aims to provide an inclusive and supportive platform dedicated to emerging and established designers and models.

Male models will showcase the latest menswear.

“We do the casting every year before announcing who is selected for the runways at the grand fashion event. It is not only done to make sure that our event goes well but to also give young models a platform and chance to expose their talent before a big audience,” said Ntawirema.

Expectations

Ntawirema added that models normally return for the casting exercise, and those who fail are given another chance to participate in the next editions.

But, RCFS has planned training for the models, who have not been picked for the runway at the event to help them nurture their talents.

“We have realized a number of models give up on modeling and their talent ends up going to waste, which we do not want to regret. We will let them rehearse alongside those who managed to pass the casting so they can improve and get the chance in the next editions or other fashion events,” he said.

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Some of the models who made the cut for the Rwanda Cultural Fashion show 2019. /Courtesy.

The casting exercise was held earlier to give models enough time for rehearsals as organizers want well-trained models, who will be ready to spice up the runway at the show.

So far, 14 designers have already applied to showcase their collections at the fashion event. They include locals like Touch of Rwanda, Mundi Creations, Fathia Designs, and international designers including two Kenyans, a Ugandan, a Ghanaian, a Congolese, an Ethiopian and a Tanzanian.

According to the schedule, the grand event will be preceded by a fashion tour, dubbed ‘Kigali fashion Tour’ on September 5 during which different fashion personalities will be touring different fashion shops to evaluate the state of the fashion industry in Rwanda.

Kigali Heights and Hotel Des Milles Collines are among venues lined up for tour departures while renowned Chinese textile factory C&H will be among the places to visit during the tour.

On September 6, different fashion stakeholders are scheduled to convene for a conference themed: ‘Designed in Africa, Made in Rwanda, to discuss the current situation of the fashion industry in Rwanda and beyond.

Over the past seven years, the Rwanda Cultural

Fashion Show has embarked on a successful journey and has been the bridge for different supermodels to build their name on the map of Rwanda’s fashion industry.

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Rwanda Signs Deal With Chinese Garment Firm To Set Up A Modern Garment Factory

Thursday, 13 June 2019 13:52

Rwanda Development Board – RDB has today signed an agreement with Pink Mango C&D for the establishment of a modern garment factory in Kigali Special Economic zone that will produce garments for both the domestic and export market.

Pink Mango C&D is expected to provide 7,500 jobs to Rwandans by the fifth year and cumulative export earnings of US$20 million over the next five years.

Pink Mango C&D is also expected to build capacity and skills transfer to 500 workers of local garment cooperatives who will also benefit from some of their supply contracts through an outsourcing model.

Speaking after the signing, RDB Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer Emmanuel Hategeka said the investment of Pink Mango C&D will upskill Rwandans giving them access to productive jobs and hence ensuring a better standard of living.

He said the investment will not only enable us to increase our exports but also reduce imports of clothing.

“We have been using fiscal measures to progressively discourage the importation of second-hand clothes because it was hurting the growth of the domestic textile and garment industry. Therefore, we are attaining a double objective by signing this deal,” Hategeka added.

“Pink Mango C&D establishment will support the build up of a garment industry ecosystem attracting other players in dyeing, knitting and weaving as well as accessories suppliers to open up shop in Rwanda hence it is indeed an exciting addition to this growing industry,” he noted.

Gordon Gu, the Director of Pink Mango C&D Garments said, “I am very appreciative of RDB’s investor facilitation and the vision to develop the country and we want to be a part of it. We are glad this business makes economic sense for the country and we will ensure that Rwandans work in good conditions.”

Ms Maryse Gallagher, business partner with Gordon Gu in Pink Mango C&D said, “This is an exciting day to see the conclusion of this investment deal in Rwanda and I thank the Government for the enabling environment and incentives that will make our products competitive in the global market.”

Witt-Gruppe, part of the Otto group, a leading specialist chain in fashion and garments retail trade in Europe, will source products from the new factory.

Jacques Bathiat, the Witt-Gruppe Commercial and Operations Director said that, “One of the main concerns of our group is the conditions in which the products are manufactured, which includes the treatment of workers. I am very impressed with the way Pink Mango C&D treat their workers and how they are going to operate here.”

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