Strength and grace were taught at an early age for Kevine and her siblings. They were survivors of the horrible 1994 genocide and were left to fend for themselves at 9 years old. By overcoming unimaginable obstacles, Kevine and her siblings are now successful by following their family motto of “working hard and believing in ourselves”. Earning a degree from the University of Kigali’s Department of Creative Design, Kevine now designs for Uzuri K&Y Designs Ltd. and “aspires to educate people about our African heritage with diverse range of creations using traditional Rwandan materials.” Kevine’s talents are not limited to design however. She is advanced in computer science and graphic software, is a self-taught painter, and has learned the art of Batik from an African-Canadian artist.
Uzuri K&Y Designs Ltd. is a brand comprising of original concepts and creations by two young women, Ysolde and Kevine. “I and Ysolde aim to bring our imaginations and ideas to life, strengthen the phrase ‘Made in Africa’ by using traditional materials, and using the latest technology to produce the highest of qualities.” Their goal is to create jobs and opportunities for women and youth while instilling a sense of pride. Uzuri K&Y Designs has already employed 10 women and hoping for more by the end of this year. Kevine likes to choose a theme for one of their collections each year. This year she is busy preparing a line that will give a message of community strength in the fight against AIDS which will be unveiled Summer 2014.
