THE Rwanda fashion industry has over the years evolved into a lucrative and vibrant business sector. Women have been largely behind this mushrooming industry.

They have placed Rwanda on the global fashion scene thanks to designs that have been displayed at events like Rwanda Day in London and Toronto, Great Lakes Fashion Show and Kigali Fashion Week, among others.

Dean Karemera brings you some of the women behind the successful fashion industry.

Christine Mbabazi: Founder of Christine Creative and Fashion House 

Born in 1990 in Uganda, Christine is a student at Mt. Kenya University pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication. She is also a presenter of the Overdrive show on Radio 10.  

The talented youngster had interest in athletics, modeling, music and drama but her deepest passion was in fashion design from a young age. Her earliest top moment was when she was crowned Miss Designer at Gahini Secondary School in 2010.

Her inspiration is model Naomi Campbell because she managed to cut a niche for herself in an industry that was dominated by white women. Her dream faced many challenges such as lack of financial support but her passion overtook her fears and she took the risk. 

She successfully launched her fashion house in March 2014. The fashion house deals in exquisite African fabrics using traditional designs, jewelry and other accessories. She has since built a reputation of making unique styles and prompt delivery. 

Naleli Rugege: Founder of House of Marion 

Naleli Rugege was born in December 1986 in Lesotho, but grew up in South Africa before moving back to Rwanda in November 2009.

She is a confident, young and a visionary fashion designer who has steadily grown as she masters the skill. Rugege is the brain behind the African dresses which were worn by Miss Rwanda beauty contestants early this year.

She specialises in African illustrations and design, a skill she adopted as a young child. Naleli is determined to stay true to her roots and her inspiration by approaching design with an eccentric mix of traditional fabrics with African prints. She encourages all to "map your voyage and be on the frontier of your own dreams”. 

Inés Cuatrecasas, Co-Founder, MILLE Collines fashion house

Mille Collines should not be confused with Hotel Mille Collines that acquired fame in the Hotel Rwanda movie — it is a Rwandan fashion house that is looking to expand in East Africa. The fashion house, which opened its first shop in the outskirts of Kigali in Rwanda, has spread its wings to reach as far as Kenya. 

Founded by Ms Inés Cuatrecasas and Mr Oliver Marc, who are Spanish, their drive to take the Millie Collines brand to the rest of the East African market arises from a growing appreciation of fashion made in Africa.

Mille Collines is a fashion house that gives its customers a whole shopping experience.  Established in Kigali in 2007, the fashion house now employs 28 staff. It also works with co-operatives outside the city. The co-operatives make accessories like buttons and do embroidery. 

Joselyne Umutoniwase: Founder of Rwanda Clothing Home

She is one of the leading designers in the local budding fashion industry and the brainchild behind ‘Rwandan Fashion Up-grade 2013’. She started working as a professional fashion designer in 2010 and founded Rwanda Clothing Home in February 2012. 

Under her label, she managed to create various sub-brands such as Real World Fashion, Made in Rwanda Clothing and Ju by Joselyne Umutoniwase Real World Fashion label combines young classic styles with chic sportswear, creating looks that are both casual and stylish.  Made In Rwanda Clothing is cosmopolitan, expresses one’s style with confidence and emphasises personality. 

Colombe Ituze Ndutiye: Proprietor, INCO/ICYUSA Fashion House 

With a successful fashion label to boast about, Rwandan designer Colombe Ituze Ndutiye began drawing at the age of six and she thought she would grow up to be a cartoonist until she met a Belgium designer who gave her some guidance and she promptly realised what she wanted to do. 

Colombe is credited as the first Rwandan to own her own fashion label, "INCO icyusa”, and was one of 10 local designers who showed off their creations on the runway at the second Kigali Fashion Week in November 2013. 

With exquisite traditional attires, the fashion label runs on a slogan of "Traditional with a modern touch”. INCO (derived from the first initials of her name) fashion house has creations that range from apparel to accessories, and are available through retail stores, as well as custom orders.

Her mission is to promote and expand the fashion industry in Rwanda; to raise awareness of the talents and gifts within Africa that haven’t been fully discovered; particularly in Rwanda. She strives to create jobs and opportunities for women, working with local cooperatives and artisans.

In 2009, Colombe was recognised as the youngest designer at the 1st Rwanda Fashion Festival that attracts the fashion elite from different African countries and Europe. In her words she says, "I believe Africa has something unique to offer. We want to share what we have to the rest of the world”