FROM GENOCIDE SURVIVORS TO DESIGNERS ON THE RUNWAY
If “perseverance” had a personification, it would probably be the extraordinary Uwi Twins (pronounced ‘oo-wie’). Fighting for life at the young age of seven, Reuben and Lévi were able to escape the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 with a determination to not just survive, but thrive. Today, they expertly teach the “art of looking good” with a style of survival. The under-30 international entrepreneurs use fashion to pave the way for progress, preaching, “Follow your dreams, and succeed in different ways. Rather than following a predetermined path to greatness, create greatness!”
THEY ESCAPED THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE WITH A DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED.
Uwi Twins tell their real-life story of birth and survival through the lens of street style. They created Uwi Twins with a message to inspire others to live creatively. Living in Africa, Canada, and traveling through Hong Kong has brought a unique insight to the designs. The 1987 graphic on the unisex tee symbolizes the year the twins were born, while the image shows them at seven years old when Reuben and Lévi were forced to leave their native country to survive, and also determined to succeed.
CEO/Designer, Reuben Uwi says the upcoming collection is special because it was designed in Kenya recently on their first trip back to Africa after 17 years. He continues, “The last time we were here our future was bleak, but now we have some great opportunities ahead of us; it’s such a huge contrast. We hope to try and connect with some of the youth here who feel hopeless, share our blessings with them. By sharing our story with them, we would like to give them hope and inspire them that they, too, can follow their dreams.”
THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE OUR FUTURE WAS BLEAK, BUT NOW WE HAVE SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF US.
Reuben and Lévi Uwi use fashion to express their experiences. The designers tell a story of success through clothing with South Beach sleek white, and comfortably fit clean lines. Uwi Twins is for the urban artist lifestyle, bringing hints of bold colors and compliments of animal prints, inspired by the safaris on their recent trip back home. Pops of color in a matching hue of red, paired nicely with a favorite set of headphones, create a perfect UWI swag.
THE COLLECTION WAS INSPIRED BY THEIR FIRST TRIP BACK TO AFRICA IN 17 YEARS.
On Friday, September 11, 2015 at Gotham Hall, Uwi Twins will be sharing their experience with the worl,d as they unveil their SS 16 collection, “I Left My Heart in Africa” during New York Fashion Week.
Keep an eye on Uwi Twins!
With love,
FWO
http://newyorkfashionweeklive.com/uwi-twins-survive-a-genocide-unveil-ss16-collection
