The Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 8, at the Kigali Conference and Exhibition Village (formerly Camp Kigali).
The event, in its 6th edition, is expected to attract 10 designers, including six locals and four from Uganda, Ghana, DR Congo and Nigeria.
Celestin Ntawirema, the event organiser, said preparations for the show are in the final stages, and urged Rwandans and fashion enthusiasts to attend and support the event.
"The models are prepared, and designers are ready to showcase creativity through their creations,” Ntawirema told The New Times.
Originally hosted in hotels, the event has moved to a bigger venue "to accommodate all the guests who have registered for the show,” Ntawirema said when asked about the change of the venue.
"Given the number of participants, and the popularity the event has gained over the past years, we’re expecting a huge turn up, thus the reason we had to look for an appropriate venue,” he explained.
A model walks the runway during rehearsal for the upcoming event. Photos by Eddie Nsabimana
This year, organisers are working in partnership with Rwanda’s Miss Heritage Beauty queens. The beauty queens include Miss Marlene Umutoniwase (2014), Joanna Bagwire (2015), Jane Umutoni (2016), Guelda Shimwa (2017) and Lydia Dushimimana (2018).
Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show is a platform for local designers and aspiring models to showcase their creativity and be able to sell their products to the international market.
A total of 36 models were selected to participate in this year’s runway. The models are from Kenya, DR Congo, Burundi, India, and hosts Rwanda.
Featuring designs by some of the country’s popular brands, like Inkanda House, Rupari Designs, Mundi Fashion House and Touch of Rwanda Fashion, and music performances from traditional singer Jules Sentore, the show is set to be the biggest event to be held in the city this weekend.
The show starts at 6pm and ends at 10pm Entrance fee is Rwf10, 000 (ordinary section) and Rwf25, 000 (in the VIP wing).