INSPIRING RWANDA’S NEXT GENERATION OF FASHION ENTREPRENEURS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER

We were incredibly honoured to be invited by Darrell Kofkin and WeNetwork at the University of Westminster to deliver a lecture and Q&A session to an inspiring group of students participating in the Rwanda Fashion Entrepreneurs Programme.

This pioneering partnership is designed to support emerging fashion entrepreneurs in Rwanda while strengthening people-to-people connections within the creative economy between Rwanda and the UK. It’s a powerful example of how education, collaboration, and creativity can build global bridges.

The Rwanda Fashion Entrepreneurs Programme brings together aspiring designers and founders who are developing innovative fashion businesses with both local and international ambition. The initiative aims to:

• Equip emerging Rwandan fashion entrepreneurs with practical business skills

• Strengthen cross-border creative collaboration between Rwanda and the UK

• Foster sustainable growth within the African fashion ecosystem

• Encourage long-term partnerships within the global creative economy

Being part of this programme aligns perfectly with our belief that strong brands can emerge from anywhere — with the right strategy, support, and storytelling.

During the session, we shared the founding story of Schparkly Creative — from idea to agency — including the challenges, pivots, and lessons learned along the way.

For many early-stage entrepreneurs, understanding how creative businesses are built in the real world is just as valuable as theory. We discussed:

• How to identify and articulate your unique brand positioning

• The importance of clarity in your brand story

• Turning creativity into commercial opportunity

• Building confidence as a founder

Entrepreneurship is rarely linear. Sharing the honest journey behind Schparkly Creative helped highlight that resilience, adaptability, and clear communication are just as important as talent.

Ahead of their presentations next week, we also delivered practical marketing insights tailored specifically for fashion entrepreneurs, including:

Understanding who you are designing for is fundamental. Clear audience definition shapes everything from product development to tone of voice.

Before spending time (or budget) on marketing tactics, founders must define:

• What they stand for

• What problem they solve

• Why their brand matters

A strong brand strategy makes marketing significantly more effective.

We shared deck-building hints to help students refine their investor and stakeholder presentations, including:

• Structuring a clear narrative arc

• Demonstrating market understanding

• Communicating traction and ambition

• Designing slides for clarity, not clutter

In fashion — as in any creative industry — presentation matters.

Programmes like this are more than academic exercises. They strengthen long-term relationships between creative communities in Rwanda and the UK, fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared growth.

The global fashion industry is evolving rapidly, and emerging markets are playing an increasingly influential role. Supporting new voices in fashion entrepreneurship is essential to building a more diverse and globally connected creative economy.

Wren Fegarsky and I are excited to see what these talented entrepreneurs present next week. Their energy, ambition, and creativity were truly inspiring.

A huge thank you to Darrell Kofkin, WeNetwork, and the University of Westminster for creating such a meaningful platform for international collaboration.