Uzuriky

Description

UZURI K&Y is an African-inspired eco-friendly shoe brand that champions sustainability through its innovative use of the 4R technology: recycling, reusing, recovering, and reducing car tires to create eco-friendly footwear. Founded in 2013 by two visionary friends, Ysolde Shimwe and Kevine Kagirimpundu, the company emerged with a mission to address pressing environmental and unemployment challenges within their community.

Across Africa, millions of discarded car tires accumulate in landfills, encroaching upon inhabited and vulnerable neighborhoods. These tires, taking up to 80 years to decompose, not only pollute the air and water but also act as breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes. Compounding the issue, youth unemployment in Africa reaches alarming levels, with young women facing disproportionately higher rates of joblessness.

To combat these interconnected issues, UZURI K&Y ingeniously repurposes used car tires, transforming them into functional and fashionable footwear, tailored for conscious consumers. Through their own state-of-the-art production facility, the brand employs advanced techniques to handcraft their footwear. Currently, UZURI K&Y operates retail stores in Rwanda and Kenya, while also utilizing e-commerce platforms to connect with global customers.