UZURI K & Y, a rising star of African footwear, creating beautiful shoes and skilled jobs

Kevine Kagirimpundu is the CEO & co-founder of UZURI K&Y, the eco-friendly footwear brand in Rwanda. She obtained her degree in creative designs & environmental build, and she also acquired her business development and leadership skills from global entrepreneurship accelerators. She is passionate about sustainable environment and leverages her skills to educate youth & women from urban vulnerable communities. In 2019, the Africa Netpreneur Prize Initiative named her among top 10 business heroes creating change across Africa.

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The art of fine shoe-making is a specific design discipline and one that excites the team of entrepreneurs behind the Rwandan shoe brand, UZURI K&Y. Kevine Kagirimpundu (CEO & Co-Creative designer) and Ysolde Shimwe (CFO & Co-Creative designer) and are combining their substantial design talents to create some of the hottest shoes on the continent.

LoA connected with co-founder and ceo, Kevine Kagirimpundu, this month to find out more about this rising star of the African shoe scene….

What does your company do?

UZURI K&Y is a Rwandan enterprise based in Kigali and registered since June 2013, designing and manufacturing a line of eco footwear. With the impact of creating jobs in the handcraft sector, from our workshop located in Gikondo, we have trained a great team of shoe makers to produce high quality handcrafted shoes for women and men.

What inspired you to start your company?

Myself, Kevine Kagirimpundu, and my cofounder, Ysolde Shimwe, are both creative, self-taught designers from the University of Rwanda, inspired to create jobs in our community through our love for design. We used to dream a lot of the future, sharing life perspectives and it was so pleasant how our desires converged to become a common vision. We have invested our time, money and skills learning, and formed a good team to produce our designs from Rwanda. We have developed original techniques to handcraft our shoes, with their unique features and patterns, and a particular way of preparing materials.

Why should anyone buy your products in particular?

We produce sustainable products in the circular economy. Our products differ from our competitors’ in various ways such as colours, patterns and original concepts, all generated using local materials such as Agaseke patterns produced by local artisans and also showcasing our traditional old techniques into new ways of application. Our products also differ from others in the combination of materials used, which are mixed with African sourced fabrics, as well as using different soles such as TPU, TPR and recycled tires.

Tell us a little about your team?

We are a team of young people and female dominated.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey, and do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

My father was a young business man teaching through a tvet program to the less privileged before 1994. My siblings are also creatives. When I started College, at the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology, I met a friend who later became a business partner and together we brought our dreams and wishes into reality.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

Creating a sustainable company with a social impact while generating profit for investors. Our company aspires to provide affordable, quality eco footwear to fashion-lovers both at home and all over the world. Inspired by our African heritage, the footwear is designed in Rwanda and handcrafted by local people. Creating employment especially for women and youth is at the heart of our business. It is also our vision for UZURI K&Y to be a well-known international footwear brand designed in Rwanda in a world where Rwanda is a recognized originator of fashion items.

What gives you most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

Seeing women working with passion and running their households at the same time.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to any woman entrepreneur starting up in business?

Be consistent and understand your financial story.

Contact or follow UZURI K&Y

Why LoA loves it….

At LoA, we love to see uniquely African design being given a contemporary edge by young, eco-conscious designers who understand both what makes their consumers excited and what can also help create jobs. In the case of UZURI K&Y, these hot shoe design brands are tipped to get the world talking, and showcase the best of beautiful design and craftsmanship, with a vibey design aesthetic. We think this great young Rwandan design team will put the country firmly on the global creative accessory map, and show that you can build a great brand and make a social and environmental impact at the same time. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa