Uganda’s fashion industry has produced designers whose work draws on local culture, recycled materials, contemporary art and African identity. Among them are Charles Kasozi, Samson Ssenkaaba, Raphael Allan Kasule and Philip Buyi, whose careers have included fashion shows, artistic projects and work connected to Uganda’s international representation.
The four were featured by Lifestyle Uganda in a 2019 selection of influential male designers. Their work has since remained part of Uganda’s wider creative industry.
Charles Kasozi
Charles Kasozi, also known as Ras Kasozi, is the founder and creative director of Kas Wear.
Kasozi began developing his designs while working with limited financial resources, which pushed him toward the use of recycled, natural and indigenous materials. He began learning design under the guidance of his mother, a tailor, at an early age. He officially launched Kas Wear in 2009.
His approach gained international attention in 2012 when Kas Wear showcased at Vancouver Fashion Week in Canada. His collection combined contemporary clothing with Ugandan and African influences, including recycled and indigenous materials.
Kasozi has also been involved in initiatives aimed at supporting emerging Ugandan designers. Kas Wear has worked with the Bayimba Foundation and Africalia on the SEED mentorship programme, which provides opportunities for young designers to develop their skills and showcase their work.
Samson Ssenkaaba, known as Xenson
Samson Ssenkaaba, known professionally as Xenson, is a multidisciplinary artist whose work includes fashion, painting, performance, installation, poetry and film.
His creative work draws heavily from African culture, dance and hip-hop. Art Auction East Africa describes his practice as spanning fashion design, painting, performance, installation, video and photography, with African cultures and dance among its influences.
Xenson graduated from Makerere University’s Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts in 1999 with first-class honours in painting and graphic design. His work has been exhibited in Uganda and internationally, including at exhibitions and festivals in Nairobi, Scotland, Germany and the United States.
His fashion work forms part of a broader artistic practice that examines identity, culture and contemporary African life.
Raphael Allan Kasule
Raphael Allan Kasule is the founder of K-Rafael Couture and has worked as a fashion designer, pattern maker and illustrator.
Kasule began experimenting with fashion as a teenager, using his mother’s sewing machine. His designs later attracted attention for their unconventional approach to clothing and their use of Ugandan cultural references.
One of his notable projects was designing outfits for Uganda’s team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. His work for the Ugandan delegation was also recognised internationally, with the outfits included among seven Olympic team uniforms highlighted by Canada’s Globe and Mail, according to The Independent.
Kasule later designed clothing for Uganda’s delegation at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, continuing his work of incorporating elements of Ugandan heritage into contemporary designs.
Philip Buyi
Philip Buyi, also known as Kkoolo, is a designer, filmmaker and dancer who founded the Kkoolo fashion and arts brand.
Kkoolo was established in 2012 and has focused on Afro-urban clothing, using African fabrics and recycled materials to produce customised pieces including jackets, trousers, caps and vests. The brand has produced clothing for both men and women.
Buyi has described himself as a multi-talented artist working across dance, film and design. A 2018 profile in Daily Monitor identified him as a designer and filmmaker as well as a dancer.
Kkoolo has also used fashion and arts projects to address issues including culture, identity, gender and youth development. Its work has included training and workshops for designers, tailors, illustrators, models and choreographers.
Together, the four designers illustrate different strands of Uganda’s fashion and creative industries, from recycled-material design and Afro-urban clothing to multidisciplinary art and fashion created for international sporting events.
