In June, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). One of the events that we were not able to cover during that busy month was Kigali Fashion week. There is a fashion show during the week, and the royal couple attended as part of their round of CHOGM activities.
The Royals
Camilla reached for one of her Anna Valentine flowing trouser ensembles for the occasion, which was a great choice. This reflects her very personal style and thus is almost beyond fashion critique. She looked cool and confident and very much herself. I think I spy her Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra earrings in her ears.
Kigali Fashion Week and Fashion Show
Kigali Fashion Week occurs twice a year. It was established to attract international attention to the Rwandan creative industry and, in addition to the fashion show, includes fashion summits, masterclasses, and workshops. In 2022, it coincided with CHOGM, which helped boost their visibility. Twenty-three local designers participated, including Haute Baso, Sonia Mugabo, Inzuki, Rwanda Clothing, Uzi Collection, Izubaa, and Amike.
I was really intrigued by the footwear at the show.
The Designers
Haute Baso is young Rwandan creative artist who designs clothing for men, women, and children. His uses native materials, and focuses on clothes that are as functional as they are beautiful. You can see his designs on his Instagram page.
Sonia Mugabo designs “essentials for women”. She focuses on every day, wearable gear. Her Instagram page is full of lovely, workable pieces.
Inzuki Designs encompasses jewelry, accessories, and interior deco. They focus on African materials, and consider themselves “traditional with a twist”.
Rwanda Clothing offers customized clothing. All items are designed by Joselyne Umutoni Wase and tailored to an individual’s taste and measurements, using materials and influences from pre-colonial times. Their Instagram page is here.
Comments
I hope you enjoyed seeing designers you don’t typically encounter in the royal world. Thanks to Charles and Cams for bringing attention to these talented individuals and their unique and beautiful designs. Please let us know what you think in the comments.