Wase: Weaving A Brighter Future
Discover the story of Wase, a Rwandan fashion brand that empowers women through crochet and entrepreneurship.
Meet Sarah Uwase
"I am Uwase, the founder of Wase. A handmade crochet brand based in Kigali, Rwanda. We work with women in order to empower them financially and mentally."
Multidisciplinary artist
"Besides this, I also do a little bit of acting. I am featured in a few movies. Together with German filmmakers, we created a documentary about my brand Wase. We show the whole story and the women that influenced my journey like my mother and other women that are close to me."
Wase 2021 Collection (2021-10) by MeliibeesMILELE CONTEMPORARY LAB
Where did your love for crochet start?
"During COVID19, I was doing basically nothing at all. A friend taught me how to hold a crochet and yarn. From there on I started using Youtube and I fell in love with the work."
"I would do a few designs and post them on Instagram and people liked them. So I was like, why not start a business and teach someone who can actually make a use of this. That’s when I thought of working with single mothers. "
Why is it important for you to work with single mothers?
"I was raised by a single mother, she has shown me another side of being a woman and what it means. It means being patient and courageous. I find it important to work with these women because they are going through hardships that you can not even imagine. Women are powerful"
How is Wase structured?
The business officially started in March 2022. I started with one single mother called Shadia, I taught her how to crochet. After one year when the business was growing, I started to teach more women. So far we are a team of 4."
Wase 2021 Collection (2021-10) by MeliibeesMILELE CONTEMPORARY LAB
Inspiration for Wase.
"I get inspiration from the women themselves, they bring color to their lives, in an unusual way. Another person would not find happiness in their situation. But they find a way to still be happy in their messed up situations. We put these colors into these crochets."
Wase 2021 Collection (2021-10) by MeliibeesMILELE CONTEMPORARY LAB
How do you see Wase in the future?
"Wase is going to be big! I am still taking my time but my plan in general is to help as many Rwandan women as possible with crochet designs. I want to find ways to sustain them through education and show them another way to live life."
"Also, we do not want to limit ourselves with just crochet but anything hand-made. As long as they are able to learn and use it, they will be taught. In the next 10 years, I want to work with at least 1000 Rwandan women."
The Women of Rwanda is my first documentary I featured in. I have acted before, but this documentary is more personal and about my own work. This is about women of Rwanda that I have seen with my own eyes, I am the protagonist here. We are showing my crochet journey and the women who inspired me. Shadia, my mom and artist Kaya Byinshii. We would just talk and they give me advice about my business. Honest advice, no cap! We showed our interactions and they shared about their lives as well."
Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?
"My future is bright. I like doing things I like, what I have passion for: working with women. When you work with women, you’ll get far. Not only financially, but also mentally and socially. They teach you so much. For me, it’s my satisfaction."
Satisfication through the strength of women
"I see myself surrounded by all these women. Who are not giving up on themselves, but they see their chances. I want to encourage them more in this process through opportunities."
Wase 2021 Collection (2021-10) by MeliibeesMILELE CONTEMPORARY LAB
Motivation for others?
"Understanding that is not easy, but you find yourself still doing it. Find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life. Spend a lot of time finding out who you are and what you love to do. As long you know what you want to do, everything will open up."
Wase 2021 Collection (2021-10) by MeliibeesMILELE CONTEMPORARY LAB
Find your passion and stay close to it.
"I feel like we often get on how to start. You just start and you find your way. Because everyone’s story is unique. Be fearless and understand that, everything will open. You can only understand when you get into that situation, you just have to take the first step."
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.