FOLLOWING his recent graduation from Polimoda College with a master's degree in Collection Design, Moses Turahirwa, founder of Moshions, exhibited the 'Imandwa collection to spark conversation about gender fluidity in fashion and toxic masculinity — topics that are often difficult to discuss in the African context. 

He spoke more, to The New Times, about the collection's context.

What inspired the ‘Imandwa’ collection?

Imandwa’ was inspired by the freedom, fluidity, and beauty that I find through people, no matter their gender or personality, its self-expression and vulnerability. It’s everything that speaks the inner side of a person.

Moses Turahirwa 

What message are you conveying through this collection?

The message that I am trying to give is authenticity. People need to get out of labels, out of their boxes, and be able to express themselves in their career, in any way that they want to express themselves. For me, it’s the fluidity that I learned from creating silhouettes based on the details on the silhouettes based on the elements that are on the clothes to convey the message of being culture diluted but going global and international, not the certain box that society wants us to be in or the religion to the families. Hence, it’s all about pushing boundaries and being your authentic self.

Why the name Imandwa?

The name Imandwa is because it is very relatable. It’s a Kinyarwanda name. It has a meaning in the culture, but it is not of the past but for the future.

Talk to us about the need to spark a dialogue about gender fluidity and toxic masculinity?

The collection expresses gender fluidity and toxic masculinity, which is the essence of developing or bringing in conversations that aren't often touched in our society, particularly in Africa, where being a man is seen as a provider or everything that people expect you to be.

When you are born a man, you have a lot of expectations from your family and society, which adds a lot of pressure from family and religious aspects, making it difficult for you to be a man. You are a man from the moment you are born. You don't have to kill yourself to provide; instead, you must embrace the feeling of who you are because you have a heart, emotions, you can cry. There's a lot a man can say that he's not allowed to say because of the barriers I mentioned.

What’s behind the models’ placements, the masks, and all the performance?

It’s a performance. The collection was inspired by men’s wear, and the message I was trying to convey is especially for men. Still, the collection is gender fluid and unisex. It can be worn by men and women because we are relating to the insolation using the rules and materials we find in the Rwandan culture to express the feeling and vibe of the collection, which is why we create and work with many artists, so you can get something you relate to in the Rwandan culture, using everything that we find here and the inspiration around us. It‘s a powerful message. For me to be able to express the message, I want to use the objects and things you can relate to

If you see a hairstyle, you can relate to it. It is because it speaks the culture. It speaks about the fluidity and the drip found in the Rwandan culture. 

I probably do not want to wear the ‘Mushanana’ of the ’50s but create my ‘Mushanana’ of today. It’s the fusion of the modern and the tradition that we want to celebrate.

How long did you work on the collection?

I worked on the collection for one year.

What can you say of your experience after three days of exhibiting the Imandwa collection?

My experience is so hard to put in words because it has awesome so far, the support system, people who showed up, friends and clients, it wouldn’t have been the same if we put up a fantastic exhibition and no one showed up. I am super grateful to everyone who showed up and showed us support. Those who see potential and keep supporting. It means to love and support me, from government institutions, to professionals, young professionals, artistes, and everyone.

What does this collection mean for Moshion’s future?

It means growth and going global. What I have for the future are more collections.