TURAAKA: We Shine
www.kigeziwomen.org/donate
2023 UPDATE: This project has blossomed into more than I could have imagined. I spoke with Uganda in February and we have much to share! New projects have unfolded throughout the years & seeing their community develop has inspired our further collaboration to maintain momentum. Rita has pursued and excelled in her education and design, and it is a joy to check-in with her as we grow up.
Keep reading/scrolling to view my 2019 collection, inspired by and designed to sponsor sewing machines, instructors, and lessons.
I'll have additional updates soon!
Keep reading/scrolling to view my 2019 collection, inspired by and designed to sponsor sewing machines, instructors, and lessons.
I'll have additional updates soon!
This spring's collection, inspired by the bright, vibrant colors of traditional Ugandan dress, was produced for both the runway show & my ready-to-wear shop. The runway line of eleven looks includes some borderline avant-garde garments, while the ready-to-wear collection incorporates more casual, wearable pieces as well.
Kigezi Women & Children Health Initiative (KHI) is a non-profit organization serving rural Uganda by empowering women & promoting health education, and we've recently teamed up to start a couple new projects. The women in these villages love to use the word Turaaka- which translates to "we are shining"- to show their gratitude for how KHI has impacted their lives. This line was created in order to keep this light shining. 10% of all sales goes directly towards Kigezi Women. |
More About the Collaboration: How did we meet, what are we working on, and why?
The people of these villages are incredibly skilled. They do amazing handiwork; weaving and knitting beautiful pieces while looking after their households and raising children. To further develop their skills, maximize potential, and generate additional income sources, the founders of Kigezi Women (and my new very inspiring friends) Olivia Kamayangi and Gian Luca Gamberini identified a need for a new project outside of their typical realm: teaching the women how to sew & make garments to sell at their local markets. |
Almost as if it were by design, Olivia & Gian Luca's search for someone to help with this new project coincided with my mid-college crisis- where I questioned everything and concluded that I needed to find a way to bring significant meaning into my business and career. Through a friend of my mother's, our path's crossed and days later I was greeted with warmth & enthusiasm over our first FaceTime meeting.
Ever since that first phone call, we've been brainstorming project ideas, planning, fundraising, and sharing photos and inspiration.
The Kigezi Women team has significant plans in action and is continuously working away, near and far, to serve these villages. I'm excited to spend my summer working behind the scenes to design patterns for clothing that the women can learn to sew & sell, fundraise for sewing equipment, and continue to dedicate 10% of my ready-to-wear line proceeds to the organization.
Thanks to a generous donation from MODA- the Fashion Design organization at Western that puts on our fashion shows- we were already able to fully fund the first two sewing machines.
The Kigezi Women team has significant plans in action and is continuously working away, near and far, to serve these villages. I'm excited to spend my summer working behind the scenes to design patterns for clothing that the women can learn to sew & sell, fundraise for sewing equipment, and continue to dedicate 10% of my ready-to-wear line proceeds to the organization.
Thanks to a generous donation from MODA- the Fashion Design organization at Western that puts on our fashion shows- we were already able to fully fund the first two sewing machines.
The next steps? Fund two more machines, continue the search for a local sewing instructor, and get to work designing some patterns!
I'm hoping to start a blog section of the new website to share our progress, but for now, stay up to date via @kigezi_women & @rosesomadesign on Instagram.
I'm hoping to start a blog section of the new website to share our progress, but for now, stay up to date via @kigezi_women & @rosesomadesign on Instagram.