The ongoing preparations for Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show that will be held in July this year will feature natural dyed clothes that are rare in the fashion industry in Rwanda.

The clothes are made of natural leaves, roots and textiles such as silk with wool to make beautiful attire. The clothes are made in Musanze by Umva.

According to Celestin Ntawirema, the founder of Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show, there will be an exhibition and fashion show where products with natural dye will be showcased to people.

"We want to give our clients new products with a unique look,” Ntawirema said adding that such kind of clothes need to be made for people who are interested in fashion and design as well as promoting  silk and wool products which in turn will boost the fashion industry in Rwanda.

He noted that in Rwanda, there is no tradition of natural textiles like using dye although the method does exist in the region. Therefore introducing it to the fashion industry will create market for clothes made out of natural dye.

Currently, Rwanda’s local textile market is based on imported fabrics that are known as ‘African fabrics’ designed mostly beyond the boundaries of Africa.

The aim of this project is to explore design possibilities in the field of textile while using local fabric, available techniques and skills to support the identity of Rwanda’s local culture.

Umva explores the full cycle of natural dyeing in the context of contemporary textile production in Rwanda. The project, led by Nancy Zeller was based on collaboration with local women passionate about designing and fashion.

"We have the designs that are made out of local products but we need a designer to make it better and boost our textile that is among one family of thirty people,” Zeller said.

Umva is comprised of 30 women who use exquisite fine wool and silks, naturally dyed with plants where their finished pieces speak to their determination to earn income and facilitate their families.

It’s a budding opportunity for this "family” and they take immense pride and care in nurturing its success. The process they have learned is proprietary; they have developed it with great support. Natural dye textiles are made out of different tree products including leaves, roots among others. These are cooked for 40 minutes and the water is extracted to put in the cloth that changes the colour.

Nancy Zeller, the architect behind natural dye clothes first came to Rwanda in 2013 at the invitation of a group of widows in Musanze as part of NGO True Vineyard Ministries to share the knowledge of natural dyeing and according to her, Rwanda immediately became a home for her and returned back the following year to begin this project.

"In 2013, through a mutual friend she met at National University of Rwanda, visited his family in Musanze only to find out that the grandparent knew how to create traditional Rwandan crafts and she was also interested in learning more about natural dyeing.”

She then shared some techniques with her about natural dyeing and she quickly mastered the art.

It was then that many more gifted and interested women started learning the designing using natural dye.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw