Joli Tropisme

Lifestyle & Travel in Africa

This is Rwanda : Joselyne Umutoniwase & Rwanda Clothing

mai 15, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend the fashion show of Rwanda Clothing. As usual, it was first at love sight with the collection designed by the talented Joselyne Umutoniwase . Bright colors, african fabrics, embroidery, beads, modern cuts, emphasize on details and feminity, I was totally amazed ! Models were all beautiful and coming in all the diversity of the feminity ! The show was fabulous as the brand is. If you don’t know yet Rwanda Clothing, let me introduce you to Joselyne, owner and founder of this Made in Rwanda brand.

5 things to do in Musanze ( excluding gorillas trek)

août 30, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

The northern province capital city is located two hours drive from Kigali. The journey up to Musanze passes through some stunning scenery and you will probably stop often to admire the famous thousands hills. And the beautiful postcard’s landscapes continue when you reach the city. On your right you can enjoy the view of the volcanoes. They are all there just outside of the city, seeming close to you. Sometimes they are hidden by the clouds, sometimes they are totally visible and it is just stunning.

Ibaba : embroidery made in Rwanda

mai 8, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Last week, I visited the Ibaba workshop in Rutongo and was totally amazed. I placed a customized order few weeks ago for a friend of mine who is expecting her first baby and I decided to go to the workshop to take my order instead of waiting in Kigali. I already knew their products but seeing the ladies behind the wonderful embroideries was so great.

Ibaba Rwanda is a social enterprise empowering women with a beautiful story. During the seventies, in Rutongo, Belgian nuns started to teach embroidery to help young women from the village . After the training, they could start working in the workshop earning a salary and adding an income for their families. This great initiative represented for many years a great source of empowerment for women of Rutongo . The women of Rutongo had an incredible expertise in embroidery and they were known beyond Rwanda’s borders. Having an embroidered piece from them was a must.