Mukantwali Marie Solange, a graduate of the IPRC Kigali’s Fashion Design program, is charting her own path in Rwanda’s growing creative industry. Today, she owns a workshop and boutique specializing in high quality yarn garments, dressing both everyday clients and professional models.
Her journey into fashion began at a very young age.
“My inspiration for fashion started when I was still a child,” she recalls. “I used to take oversized clothes, cut them down with scissors and needles, and try to fit them to my own measurements. That’s when I realized I had a gift for design.”
Although her passion was clear, Solange did not pursue it professionally right away. While in secondary school, she continued creating yarn outfits during holidays, but her academic priorities left her little time to focus on fashion. It was only after graduation that she decided to fully develop her talent.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Solange found herself with more free time and began sewing yarn clothes for friends and relatives as gifts.Their enthusiastic feedback convinced her to take fashion seriously. By 2022,she enrolled at IPRC Kigali to study fashion design formally a decision she says changed her life.
“Studying TVET has been very beneficial. I met classmates who had already studied tailoring at secondary level, while I had never sewn professionally. It was a challenge, but I adapted and kept working until I reached their level,”she explains.
The journey was not easy. Solange had already married by the time she enrolled, and balancing schoolwork with family life was demanding.
“Some people even advised me not to go back to school, saying it would be too hard with a family. I had to work extra hard, staying up late at night to keep up. But my passion pushed me through.”
Umuhire Celine, Justin ( Black ). Mika in Solange dressing
Her efforts paid off. Today,she produces elegant yarn dresses, wedding gowns, suits,trousers,hats, and accessories for clients of all ages from children to the elderly, from schools to fashion houses.She has already dressed models who showcased her work at different events, and she dreams of growing her brand into an internationally recognized fashion house.
“My goal is to build a strong yarn fashion brand that can compete globally,”she says.
Inspiring Rwanda’s youth
For Solange, her journey carries a message for young people, especially young women.
“Not all of us will work in offices. Some of us have talents that must be nurtured.For women in particular, we are naturally creative.Even though responsibilities are many, we must use our talents. The greatest weakness is giving up.”
Her success also highlights Rwanda’s broader investment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Rwanda’s TVET momentum
According to Rehema Mukankubito, Program manager at the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), fashion programs are vital because they equip students with both skills and income-earning opportunities.
“The fashion industry is evolving with new technologies, so having well-trained teachers and modern equipment is essential,” she said.
Current figures show that Rwanda has over 116,791 students enrolled in TVET schools nationwide, with women making up about 43% of the learners. More than 5,900 teachers are engaged in the sector, reflecting the government’s commitment to building a skilled workforce for the future.
From passion to profession
For Mukantwali Marie Solange, TVET has transformed what began as a childhood passion into a profession with real impact. Through her brand, she is already influencing Rwanda’s fashion industry and inspiring the next generation to embrace skills-based education.
“Fashion is my happiness,” she says with a smile. “And I want the world to see the beauty of yarn from Rwanda.”
Her work can be found on social media via Instagram: Hedera_Artisans and TikTok: Hedera Design.
Marie Chantal Nyirabera
