23-year-old Sandrine Ashimwe is a budding clothing and jewellery designer. 

The young designer has exhibited at The Kenya Fashion Awards (2014), Techno Kigali Fashion Week (2015) and recent Kigali Arts Festival at Umubano.

A graduate of economics at Daystar University, Kenya, fashion has always been Ashimwe’s passion; she started drawing sketches at a young age.

A course in economics wasn’t the ideal choice for somebody who dreamed about fashion, but for Ashimwe, it was more affordable and could help her start her brand.

The fresh graduate says that studying in a country where fashion and crafts are embraced and where "people are more open to creating their own gear” stirred the entrepreneurship spirit in her.

Back home, the challenge has been finding tailors and the low desire by Rwandans as they easily buy imported jewellery from western markets.

"I want to show that African accessories can be classy and just as nice looking as others,” she says.

Breaking into the fashion industry is a challenge but with the use of local material, Ashimwe hopes to make some progress.

"I got interested in African accessories because they are easier to put on the market. I feel like it’s a way of entering the fashion industry, but also a compliment to the clothing as well,” the young designer says. 

Ashimwe believes that the key to being a successful entrepreneur is to "love what you do,” be persistent and have a good support system with lots of places to pick inspiration. 

Apart from establishing her brand and "sharing her message with the world” through her creations, Ashimwe would like to see young people stand out more.

"I want to see people grow. I like to see young people have the mindset that they can do things on their own, it’s okay to stand out,” she says.

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