Shoppers Magazine 02

SIMBA SHOPPERS MAGAZINE - THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE
Designer Profile:
patrick muhire
Fashion House:
inkanda house
What is the Origin of the name
“Inkanda house?
Inkanda is a traditional wear that is
particularly worn by women and is made
from the bark of a tree or Animal skin.
How it started?
I used to enjoy adjusting my mums and
sisters clothes when I was growing up but
surprising enough, I never saw myself ever
venturing into fashion and design as a
matter of fact I wanted to be a doctor but
I ended up doing a business management
course in university.
As fate could have it, in 2008 when my
sister was planning her wedding, we could
not get outfits that people were comfortable
in or were pleased with, we walked into the
best fashion houses at that particular period
of time but none of the outfits we saw was
good enough. One and a half weeks to the
wedding we still had not gotten clothes for
the whole bridal party and you can imagine
the panic state my sister was in. I decided to
do something about it. I came up with the
designs for the whole bridal party’s outfits.
A week after the wedding, I started getting
calls from different institutions asking
me to designs for them for example NUR
Butare was having their annual Miss NUR
beauty pageant, I shortly found myself
organizing the event and doing designs for
the outfits of the different categories of the
competition. The event was quite a success,
in that I also got phone calls from other
learning institutions to such Kigali Institute
of Education, Kigali Institute of Science and
Technology and FSB.
“every moment i
create something
and see a satisfied
customer, that right
there is a memorable
moment.”
Eventually I had to quit my daytime job
in the Marketing department at Sulfo
to concentrate on this new and exciting
venture of design. I was initially working
from home before I got my office that is
now INKANDA HOUSE based in Gikondo just
above Gacinya police station.
Which are some of the projects
you have worked on?
I have participated in various exciting
projects locally and internationally.
• University Pageants - MISS NUR-
Butate, Miss K.I.E, Miss K.I.S.T
• Miss East Africa – Rwanda Chapter
• Miss Rwanda 2012
• Rwanda Fashion Festival
• Bagilinkanda Fashion show
• Miss Big Rwanda
• Kigali Fashion week
• Bruxelles Summer Fashion Show
• Le’Sama – Congo Brazaville
• FESPAM – Congo Brazaville
What is your favorite fabric?
I love working with cotton because I believe
it is a fabric that is skin friendly and works
well in any climatic condition for example on
a hot sunny day, it doesn’t get sticky when
one perspires like other materials and it’s a
flexible material to work with.
Who is your clientele?
My main clientele are women and especially
young brides to be of all ages, shapes and
sizes. The brides to be not only want their
dresses made but also outfits for their
braids maid/matrons, ushers and men in
their traditional or religious wedding line up.
I also have other clients who would want
custom made dresses for parties, office
functions or events they wish to attend for
example cocktails, dinner and weddings just
to mention but a few.
Others also come to have their office wear
tailor made.
Fashion show organizers are also my
other main clients. They normally
request me to do designs that are
for a particular category in the
show.
What is your most
memorable
moment?
Every moment
I create
something
and see a
satisfied
customer, that right there is a memorable
moment. Seeing a face brighten up with
satisfaction brings me joy. However if I was
to narrow down to one particular moment,
I would have to choose two moments
in particular. In 2011 I participated in a
fashion event in Congo Brazzaville called
Salon Africiane de Mode et de L’Artisanat
(Le SAMA) and I was named The Most
Unique and Creative designer.
The other moment was when I participated
in a Solid Africa charity event and I was the
only artist who was able to make sale of their
paintings during the day and evening event.
I was also requested to design and sew a
dress during the evening part of the solid
Africa event which I did and it mesmerized
people. That moment right there was simply
priceless.
Where do you see the Rwanda
fashion industry in the next five
years?
Rwanda is growing very rapidly in all sectors
may it be in the social, political or economic
sectors. In this regard, I therefore believe
that is the fashion industry is not lagging
behind in growth. Everyday something
is changing. I envision more people
appreciating local designs and buying more
of locally made clothing,more fashion shows
for designers to show case there designs.
I also envision Rwanda being the hub of
fashion in East Africa and Africa as a whole
with time.
Where do you see Inkanda House
in the next five years?
Inkanda house is also growing in one way
or the other. My vision is to see Inkanda
house diversify into other facets of fashion;
teaching fashion design to young people
who are passionate and enthusiastic about
fashion.
Also be a place where artistic talent is
being nurtured, have a school of makeup,
hairdressing and Art (drawing/painting). I
want Inkanda to be a house hold name in
Rwanda.
What is your advice to any up
and coming Rwandan fashion
designer?
I have a simple model that I use when
advising people in matters of fashion:
Simply be passionate, have a sense of
creativity, and believe that you are capable
of making it. From that point onwards the
way is upward.
Apart from fashion design what
else do you enjoy doing?
When I’m not designing clothes I spend that
time drawing paintings. That is also another
way of generating income as I pass time.
Am planning to do an art exhibition soon
once am done with a collection am currently
working on.
What is your philosophy?
Everyone is beautiful in one way or the other.
Once you appreciate yourself regardless of
your shape or size, the beauty in you will
automatically be seen and appreciated by
those around you. Always work with what
you have.
I love working with
cotton because
I believe it is a
fabric that is skin
friendly and works
well in any climatic
condition for
example on a hot
sunny day, it doesn’t
get sticky when one
perspires like other
materials and it’s a
flexible material to
work with.
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