“To me, clothing is a form of self-expression — there are hints about who you are in what you wear” —Mark Jacobs.
This statement by one of the world’s greats is true for so many of us who have a love for fashion. Whether you follow it or create it, clothing is so much more than just a means of protection against the elements, its means by which stories are told. For local brothers Reuben and Levi Uwi, stories are the inspiration behind their new brand—U.T.F.L. (Uwi Twins Fashion)—and a way of sharing their experiences and perspective on the world with others.
Born in Rwanda, they experienced the 1994 genocide at only 7 years old. Luckily, they managed to escape the brutality and horrors, and moved to Vancouver in hopes of a new beginning. I first met these fetching twins in high-school. Even then, they always had an eye for style—using their passion for the arts and music as inspiration for create their own unique style. So, it was no surprise that soon after graduating high-school, these two found themselves emerged in the arts industry—pursuing careers in acting and passion.
After a great run with their first brand R&U Styles, which they created in 2006 with their friend Umberto and was picked up by The Hudson Bay Company, the twins decided to create a new brand inspired by their desire to express themselves. After launching their first pop-up shop at the beginning of July, the twins’ story is a hot topic in Vancouver, so I sat down with the two designers to learn more about the new brand and their plans for the future.
What made you decide to create another line? What was your inspiration?
Levi: We wanted to share where we came from and what we’ve been through and speak to our audience through the clothing. Every piece we create has a story behind it—within the graphics and the art. We don’t want to shove the message in people’s face, it’s up to you to dissect it and interpret what the story means to you.
Reuben: We want the line and our story to empower all the underdogs out there—show them that you can overcome any situation. We all go through challenges in life, but its how you move past those challenges that makes you who you are.
Born in Rwanda, they experienced the 1994 genocide at only 7 years old. Luckily, they managed to escape the brutality and horrors, and moved to Vancouver in hopes of a new beginning. I first met these fetching twins in high-school. Even then, they always had an eye for style—using their passion for the arts and music as inspiration for create their own unique style. So, it was no surprise that soon after graduating high-school, these two found themselves emerged in the arts industry—pursuing careers in acting and passion.
After a great run with their first brand R&U Styles, which they created in 2006 with their friend Umberto and was picked up by The Hudson Bay Company, the twins decided to create a new brand inspired by their desire to express themselves. After launching their first pop-up shop at the beginning of July, the twins’ story is a hot topic in Vancouver, so I sat down with the two designers to learn more about the new brand and their plans for the future.
What made you decide to create another line? What was your inspiration?
Levi: We wanted to share where we came from and what we’ve been through and speak to our audience through the clothing. Every piece we create has a story behind it—within the graphics and the art. We don’t want to shove the message in people’s face, it’s up to you to dissect it and interpret what the story means to you.
Reuben: We want the line and our story to empower all the underdogs out there—show them that you can overcome any situation. We all go through challenges in life, but its how you move past those challenges that makes you who you are.
What can we expect from this new brand?
Levi: We are a premium brand—we design pieces with quality fabrics and quality design.
Reuben: Our customers are business oriented, ambitious, and hard working. They work hard and play hard, and are looking for clothing that offers them versatility and taps into their passion for hip hop and house. We offer styles for both men and women including high-quality tees, dresses, skirts, shorts, and blazers.
What are your plans for the future of this brand?
Levi: We actually just got back from a trip to Hong Kong where we did visited our manufacturing facilities, did some quality control, and got some inspiration for next year’s line. We’d like to start designing a line of accessories to compliment our clothes—like shoes, bags, and hats.
Who are your favourite designers? Who do you look up to?
Levi: D2, Armani, Marc Jacobs—they all have great style.
Reuben: We want our brand to be as unique as possible, so as much as we like to admire the work of the successful designers before us, we don’t want to look at other peoples’ styles too much—we want to follow our own creativity. We want to be the ones setting trends and staying ahead of the curve.
You can check out the U.T.F.L. on their website or by stopping by their showroom in Downtown Vancouver. To book an appointment, please contact mailto:info@uwittwinsfashion.com. You can also browse their collection and shop online at uwitwinsfashion.com.
http://www.stimulimag.ca/story-behind-clothes-qa-local-designers-reuben-levi/
