Meet the Founder

Hailing from Kapelebyong Uganda, Karenhappuch Ibiara is a visionary creative director and fashion consultant whose work transcends the traditional boundaries of the fashion industry. With a powerful blend of artistic expertise and a profound commitment to social impact, she has established herself as a leading force in both high fashion and humanitarian initiatives. ​

A Global Leader in Fashion and Philanthropy

Karenhappuch's journey began with a solid academic foundation, earning degrees from the London School of Stylingand the Cambridge School of Arts. This rigorous training laid the groundwork for her role as the head of Ibiara, a premier fashion consultancy. Through Ibiara, she provides expert guidance on fashion design, styling, branding, and marketing, earning a respected reputation for her keen eye for emerging trends and her contributions at fashion weeks across the globe.Beyond the runway, Karenhappuch leverages her skills to empower marginalized communities. Her extensive work includes a focus on skilling refugees in fashion design, tailoring, and crafts in Uganda under the Uganda Refugee Employment Promotion Project (UREPP). She has also made a significant impact in Morocco with the IDAFA Project, training members of over 200 cooperatives in design, management, and brand sustainability.In Ethiopia, she has dedicated the last three years to working with street children and youths through the BINA Projectand is currently involved with the BEYEPP (Bavarian Ethiopian Youth Employment Promotion Project). In these roles, she has helped design and personalize training curricula and support fashion and garment production.Karenhappuch's dedication to empowerment extends to her home country, where she works with women's groups and cooperatives in rural Uganda, helping them master crafts and manage their responsibilities. Her commitment is further solidified by the Adeke Foundation, which she founded to skill vulnerable women in Nyada, Kapelebyong, in tailoring, crafts, and mindset change.​  Educator and Innovator

As a sought-after educator, Karenhappuch shares her expertise through masterclasses in fashion design and creative direction. She is also a visiting lecturer at the Next Fashion Design College in Addis Ababa, where she teaches subjects like fashion styling, quality control, and branding.In January 2025, she collaborated with Waridi Warda of Fashion254 to style and create runway lineups for designers at the Hub of Africa Fashion Week, a testament to her influence and standing in the global fashion community.Karenhappuch Ibiara is more than a creative director; she is a changemaker who uses the transformative power of fashion to build sustainable futures for individuals and communities worldwide.​