Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show to feature natural dye clothes

Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show to be held in July this year will feature products with natural dye, said Celestin Ntawirema, the founder of Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show. They want to give their clients new products with a unique look. 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.

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

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.

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.

Nacny Zeller, the architect behind natural dye clothes said that they have the designs that are made out of local products but they need a designer to make it better and boost their textile that is among one family of thirty people.

Nancy Zeller 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.