KIMULI FASHIONABILITY
Mpigi, Central Region, Uganda
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About
Kimuli Fashionability produces upcycled fashion and accessories by training and employing persons with disabilities (physically impaired and those with hearing impairments) as trainers for trainers. We turn plastic waste like used cement bags, milk packets, sugar sacks, rice sacks and others into designer products. Homeless or rural poor youth can gain earn income by collecting and selling to us the waste materials in their various communities. After collection, the waste is washed, dried and cut to different shapes depending on the design of the product to be made. The pieces are then blended with African fabrics like (Kitengi, Sisal, Barkcloth) into unique fashionable garments like raincoats and accessories like shopping bags, wallets, laptop cases, etc. We organize fashion shows where the disabled showcase the products, they make from waste to raise funds and change people’s mind-set on the way they see disability not as an inability and creating awareness around the waste problem. That is also why we organize sensitization programs in schools, children camps, and open communities to support reducing, re using, re-cycling and upcycling waste.
website
https://kimulifashionability.squarespace.com/
Email
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sectors
sustainability
sectors
clothing and apparel
How is your business helping to solve the health, social, or economic challenges created by COVID19?
In preparation for the impact that COVID-19 is imposing on our local communities in Uganda, we are manufacturing reusable, washable and biodegradable anti-viral face-masks as an alternative to single use plastic face masks. We also launched a campaign " For each upcycled product you bought, 50% of the proceeds is used to manufacture Eco-masks which are freely distributed to local market vendors, health workers and other essential service providers in Uganda.
Does your business contribute most to recovery, response, or resilience?
Resilience - we're improving the broader infrastructure for responding to pandemic outbreaks.
What is the stage of your product development?
I have a market ready product/service. I have sold to customers.
What strengths does your team bring? Include skills and personal experience with the problem.
All our founders have been environmental enthusiasts from a young age and victims of their parents being disabled. Check full stories (https://kimulifashionability.squarespace.com/our-team). Therefore similar passions bonded us cohesively hence we turned our painful past experiences into a motivated strength to fight for conservation and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in our communities. We also have various skills which seamlessly compliment towards our impactful vision.Below are some of our management staff;Kiggundu Sairus, Social entrepreneur, business developer, PRO and awareness programs´ manager.Namujju Juliet, certified fashion designer, Social media manager and team leader.Kavuma Johnmary; marketier and environmentalist and waste collection manager.Kyazze Edward is a Special Needs Rehabilitator especially in sign language interpretation.Etienne Salborn, strategist, mentor and also he is the founder of Social innovationacademy.Nabaggala Agness (cant hear and talk), trainer and heads creative tailoring skills to persons with disabilities.
What countries do you operate in?
Currently we are in Uganda but our goal is to expand to all East African countries by 2025.
Is your company headquartered in a US "Opportunity Zone"?
No

What is an opportunity zone?