More Than Just Footwear UZURI K&Y Shoes

More Than Just Footwear UZURI K&Y Shoes. Kevine Kagirimpundu, CEO of UZURI K&Y, didn’t generally set out to make shoes. She gradually began her career studying engineering, driven by her curiosity about how things worked. But her passion for design and a desire to create something beautiful pulled her into the world of fashion. Along with her co-founder, Shimwe, she took a leap, transforming her vision into a company that produces stylish, eco-friendly footwear.

More Than Just Footwear UZURI K&Y Shoes

To Kagirimpundu and Shimwe, UZURI K&Y is more than just a shoe brand—it’s a movement to address waste and pollution. Even so, celebrating African creativity. They turn materials that would otherwise become trash into footwear people wear with pride. Each pair of UZURI K&Y shoes is crafted from recycled car tyres, contributing to Rwanda’s “Made in Rwanda” initiative. Nevertheless, it promotes locally made, quality products.

However, at UZURI K&Y, the people who make the shoes gain just as much as those who wear them. Notably, Kagirimpundu and Shimwe have developed training programs that equip young people, especially women, with skills in shoe-making. Even so, entrepreneurship, and more. So far, UZURI K&Y has trained over a thousand young people, giving them the skills to find employment or start their own businesses. Kagirimpundu essentially believes that empowering people is as vital as creating eco-friendly products.

Empowering Women and Youth Through Skills Development

“We’ve changed lives,” Kagirimpundu shares. “Kids are going to school because of this. Many can now afford health insurance. Some of my employees have built homes back home. That is my greatest achievement.”

Nevertheless, the journey wasn’t easy. At first, the two founders struggled to find skilled workers, secure funding, and expand internationally. Yet, they remained focused and inventive, determined to solve every challenge. Today, they envision UZURI K&Y as a global brand that represents African creativity and sustainability. Specifically, with new product lines ready to enter new markets.

More Than Just Footwear UZURI K&Y Shoes proves that you don’t need a perfect plan to succeed—you need the courage to start.