Illume Creative Studio

today's the last day to apply!

Creative DNA Rwanda is a fashion accelerator built as a structured journey.

It begins with 40–50 fashion entrepreneurs from across Rwanda, who engage in a foundational phase supported by the British Council’s SoCreative digital learning platform. SoCreative is a self-paced platform designed to support creative entrepreneurs in building sustainable businesses. through this phase, participants engage with courses in entrepreneurship, branding, financial management, and marketing — helping them strengthen the fundamentals of their work.

from this group, 20 participants will be selected to move into a more focused phase of the programme, working closely with industry practitioners through masterclasses, workshops, and mentor sessions.

following a pitch session, a smaller group of 10 is then supported to take their work further, including access to micro-grant opportunities and increased visibility.

at each stage, the programme becomes more focused, more practical, and more connected — supporting participants as they grow into more confident, market-ready fashion businesses.

apply here: http://bit.ly/creativednarwanda.

collaboration has always been central to how we work at illume creative studio.

over the years, we have learned that building strong creative ecosystems requires trust, shared experience, and people who understand both the work and the realities behind it.

as we prepare to deliver , we are excited to work with consultants and collaborators whose experience strengthens different parts of the programme.

Jessica Laditan / Pop Up Africa will support the programme’s UK-facing market access component, bringing deep experience creating platforms that connect african brands with UK and diaspora audiences.

Matthew Rugamba / House of Tayo will support fashion development, mentorship, craftsmanship, production insight, and market readiness. matthew has been a long-time collaborator of illume’s, with our partnership stretching back to the early years of house of tayo.

Sunny Dolat will provide advisory support around storytelling, cultural positioning, and international-facing creative development. over the years, illume has collaborated with sunny across a number of creative projects, conversations, and exhibitions.

together, we hope to create a programme that strengthens creative practice, supports sustainable business growth, and opens new pathways for emerging fashion entrepreneurs in rwanda.

for all you fashion and accessory designers, there is one more day to apply! link in bio.

Applications are now open for Creative DNA Rwanda.

Led by British Council and delivered in partnership with Illume Creative Studio (), the accelerator is designed for emerging and early-stage fashion entrepreneurs who are already building their work and are ready to take it further.

Structured as a guided journey, the programme combines mentorship, workshops, digital learning, and industry engagement to help participants strengthen their practice and build more defined, sustainable businesses..

If you are ready to strengthen your practice and build a more defined, sustainable business, we invite you to apply.

Applications close on May 20, 2026.

Apply here: http://bit.ly/creativednarwanda

Creative DNA Rwanda — Application Form Creative DNA Rwanda is a fashion accelerator supporting emerging and early-stage fashion and accessory entrepreneurs in Rwanda. Designed as a structured journey, the programme combines digital learning, mentorship, workshops, industry engagement, and practical business development support. The journ...

We’re excited to announce the launch of Creative DNA Rwanda, a British Council programme that will be delivered in partnership with illume Creative Studio (.)

Creative DNA Rwanda is a fashion accelerator supporting emerging and early-stage fashion entrepreneurs who are ready to strengthen their work and build more structured, market-ready businesses.

Designed as a structured journey, the programme combines digital learning, mentorship, workshops, and industry engagement to support participants as they grow their practice with greater clarity and intention.

Applications open on May 7, 2026. Watch this space!

Photo Credit: Philippe Nyirimihigo

to the creatives, storytellers, communicators, makers, and everyone whose work carries the details, the pressure, the beauty, and the meaning behind what the world finally sees -- we see you and we celebrate you! happy labor day!

also this carousel only allowed 10 slides otherwise we would have kept going. who you are celebrating today?

from the archives 🗃️:

kigali fashion week, 2013 -- behind the scenes.

before the runway, there is everything else.

in the lead-up to kigali fashion week 2013, we found ourselves drawn to the moments no one was watching.

the rehearsals.
the waiting.
the quiet adjustments.

the uncertainty of building something without a clear blueprint.

at the time, it didn’t feel like documentation. it felt like people coming together to figure things out — instinctively, and in real time.

designers, models, photographers, teams all contributing in ways that weren’t always defined, but deeply felt. finding ways to work together as the industry began to take shape.

looking back, these images captured something important:

an industry in formation.
young models finding their presence.
creatives learning how to work together, long before there were clear structures to support them.

the runway would come later.

what stayed with us was everything that happened before it: the process, the people, and the kind of collaboration that makes something possible, even when the system isn’t fully there yet.

this is where our work in fashion storytelling began.

this is what lives beyond the runway.

storytelling is at the heart if all we do. but we find ourselves constantly having to explain why it matters which lowkey throws us into an existenstial crisis at least twice a week. so let's out all our thoughts together, shall we? here is why storytelling matters to us.

what story/stories do YOU want to tell?

🎨 Are you a designer, artisan, or artist promoting arts, culture & tourism?

The Masterclass in Kigali is for:
🖌️ Visual artists & illustrators
👜 Fashion & product designers
🗿 Artisans & craft makers
🎭 Performing artists

📅 March 18-21 | Apply by end of day → https://forms.gle/RQ46q7YpNZRfjp1d9