Yvonne Shwanda: From Aspiring Model to Fashion Trailblazer.

From Aspiring Model to Fashion Trailblazer

While other children were glued to Cartoon Network or Nintendo, Yvonne Ahimbisibwe was fixated on Fashion TV; she couldn't get her eyes off the runway. Her eyes were always drawn to the designs, the makeup, and the models.

"I told my mother I wanted to drop out of school to be a model like my cousin, who was a professional runway model. Of course, my mother refused, rightly so. I was a child." Ahimbisibwe recalls. 

That didn't stop Ahimbisibwe from experimenting with makeup, nail polish and trying out different styles with thrifted clothing. After High school, Ahimbisibwe moved to Kenya to pursue her undergraduate degree in Sociology and Political Science at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. At the same time, she was captivated by the vast markets filled with artisanal, cultural jewellery and clothing. She was drawn to the beadwork in making Maasai cultural jewellery, which is very popular in Kenya. Upon graduation, she left for Tanzania, where she worked at the East Africa Business Council.

She soon returned to Kenya to pursue her masters in Business Administration, but this time, her thrift shopping took a different turn."It was like an awakening, this time I shopped not just for myself but to sell to others. I even started working with artisans to custom-make beaded jewellery," She recalls. Ahimbisibwe also explored another material unique to Kenya, popular for jewellery, brass. She took the time to learn more about its production, use, and versatility, and partnered with Kenyan artisans to create custom pieces. All these pieces were modelled and sold on Instagram.

"In 2016, I was an instapreneur. I would make 10 pieces, model them, and they would sell out on Instagram. It steadily grew. This was all while I was pursuing my masters and working at DT Dobie as an intern." Ahimbisibwe recounts.

In 2020, her sister was opening a store to stock and sell her fashion line.

Ahimbisibwe struck a deal with her, agreeing to split the operational costs and share the store. That is how Shwanda Kollections was born."I chose Shwanda because that is my Dad's name. It is a unique Ugandan name, and it also represents the legacy of our family."

Ahimbisibwe is primarily known as Shwanda due to the prominence of the fashion line in Uganda. She is also deeply drawn to what she terms "Africana".

"Africana is a movement to embrace the African style and creativity. It is a pride of our diverse culture on this continent and a rallying call to buy, build and support African creative enterprise." Ahimbisibwe explains. In  July 2024, as Ahimbisibwe sought to grow her then-struggling brand, she came across a fashion mentor's post on Instagram. She successfully applied to The Creative DNA program run by The Bold Woman Fund and the British Council in Uganda. Ahimbisibwe graduated at the top of her cohort, securing a seed grant of US$600 (UGX 2 million). This small amount allowed her to expand and improve her product line. 

"I now produce higher quality jewellery," she explains. Following her graduation in September 2024, Ahimbisibwe credits the program with bolstering her strategic thinking in business strategies and bookkeeping. She formalised her business, now with a business bank account, and implemented better pricing strategies with improved margins. She credits the mentors she meets from across various creative industry sectors, including film, fashion, and advertising, for the insights that continue to drive her business."These are people I can call on, confide in and guide me and share opportunities with me."

In March 2025, Ahimbisibwe showcased her fashion line in Harare, Zimbabwe at the Creative Economy Week, an event that fosters collaboration and innovation in Zimbabwe's creative industry. She is now in talks with retail outlets in Zimbabwe eager to stock Shwanda Kollections.  Ahimbisibwe credits these opportunities as a boost to her revenue generation and wider brand recognition and equity. She has been invited to showcase at various exclusive pop-ups in Uganda and stock in additional retail outlets across the city, She now earns consistently each month, with her income increasing by over 100% since joining the programme - occasionally doubling during high-performing three-day pop-ups and showcases.

Ahimbisibwe is determined to grow her Africana movement outside the continent, and she will do so at this August's African Fashion Week in London. This will be Shwanda Kollection's debut on an international stage, a dream she had not even imagined just 12 months ago when she was applying to join the Creative DNA program. "After this program, I have more drive and I have been re-energised. I have seen people living off this [fashion] and I too can do that." Ahimbisibwe enthuses. 

Soon, Ahimbisibwe hopes to see Rihanna, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Bonang Matheba, Tems and other International and African celebrities respectively accessorising with Shwanda Kollective. 

Yvonne is a beneficiary of The Creative DNA programme, a partnership between The British Council in Uganda, The Bold Woman Fund, Bold in Africa and Veryldesigns - The Bold Woman Fund is supported by the Segal Family Foundation.