What is the likelihood of a customer choosing one design over the other yet all are made from the same fabric?

Today over 28 Women from Nyamirambo can answer this since they are part of an association of women from the community and equipping them with modern tailoring skills to serve the clothing demands of a modern customer. The start

Eight years ago, 18 jobless women united with an aim of improving their lives through sewing and making various materials from fabrics. 

At the beginning, no one thought the business would bring vast returns to an entire community.

"We were friends from the same neighborhood, mostly domestic workers selling fruits and vegetables. Two used to work in the supermarket while the rest of us had no stable source of income,” said Marie Aimee Umugeni, currently the president of Nyamirambo Women’s Centre.

The idea of making fabrics did not kickoff immediately because of insufficient space to accommodate all the women and raising capital was a thorn in the flesh.

"We agreed to alternate responsibility of hosting the group from our homes,” Umugeni explained.

This inconvenience of meeting in people’s homes was unavoidable and continued for some time, but not for long, because in 2008, the group met two women tourists from Slovenia.

The women had visited Rwanda few months earlier and were moving around conducting research.

Nonetheless, the two were touched by the hard work that ordinary local women had exhibited with limited machinery.

When Vlasta and Jasminka returned to Slovenia the same year, they kept in touch with their contacts from the women’s center before facilitating the opening of a special classroom just opposite the workshop the following year.

In this classroom, women are taught reading and writing as an addition to the tailoring skills.  

The combination is a perfect way of improving communication with the customers especially those unfamiliar with the local language.

"Every Saturday during Umuganda, we make announcements inviting house maids to come for lessons too. We provide them with an option of studying in the evening after finishing most of their domestic work. Most of them have been able to start their own businesses within a short period of time”

Initially, the four sewing machines used by the women were donated by Tree 4 Rwanda which is a Swiss nonprofit Organisation helping women acquire skills.

Enhancing tailoring skills

After acquiring skills which was followed by new technology, all these additions led to more women joining the center.

In order to enhance the tailoring, computer lessons were introduced in 2009 but that was not enough because understanding the English language was necessary before using the computers.

"English classes up to now are conducted and there is no age limit for application, whoever wants to join is welcome,” said Umugeni.

Because of limited resources and space, the center works on a first-come-first-served basis since not everyone can be accommodated while maintaining quality training.

A number of partner organisations and volunteers have given a helping hand in training the women at the center.

One of them is DOT Rwanda that provides training in business startups whereby women are taught how to start businesses independently.

Among the volunteers, Tabet Monica from Switzerland is one of the masterminds behind the unique designs made by the women of Nyamirambo.

However two years ago, the women formed a cooperative called Umutima through which every individual has access to development loans from funds accumulated through their monthly savings and each of them has a different story to tell.

Tailoring as a source of livelihood 

Miriam Umutesi, 29, joined the center two years ago after failing to settle as a waitress in several hotels.

"After my secondary school at College de Rushaki in Byumba, I was left with only one choice of looking for work since I could not afford money to continue with school,” Miriam says.

Although she joined with the objective of learning to use a computer, Umutesi eventually ended up tailoring and churning out different designs.

"My focus was on understanding how to use a computer but I was later inspired to join other women who were sewing. Now I have money to sustain myself and pay school fees for my daughter,” She adds.

Jeanne Nyirakizimana, 30, was already a tailor but had failed to get more training on various designs. After joining the association, she was taken through a series of steps and learnt English which helped her, especially in dealing with clients who don’t speak Kinyarwanda.

"The money for school fees and health insurance comes from here, but I also have bigger investments such as farming,” she adds.

Hadijah Umutoniwase, 19, dropped out of school in primary five and had no skills for any business. Her dreams were boosted after joining the Nyamirambo group.

"I can now use all the machines for tailoring and I am positive that one day I will start my own business in designs and fashion,” Umutoniwase explains.

Although these women owe most of their achievements to hard work, the journey has not been a walk-over and up to now, they face several challenges.

Challenges in the business

Just like any other business, marketing is among the biggest concerns for any business owner.  And as a way of targeting clients, the center decided to put emphasis on producing quality garments with unique designs.

"We have very few local customers, most of them are travelers but we would very much want to expand supply on our local market which requires us to up our marketing game,” Umugeni explains.

Besides marketing, the women have to dig into their pockets to meet the Rwf 480,000 every month as rent.

But there is something to smile about at the end of the day despite each day not being the same.

There are highs and lows. Between November and December, especially during the Christmas period, on a good day the women can reap up to Rwf2 million.