Morine Wavamunno, a philanthropist and businesswoman who owned a thriving textile business and fashion house, discusses the impact of secondhand clothing on Uganda's textile industry, the challenges faced by fashion designers in Kampala, and the desire to revive Uganda's beauty through flexible structures and support for the informal sector.
Despite facing setbacks and challenges, Maureen Wavamuno reminisces about the productive and prosperous times of her fashion house in Uganda's textile industry.
Maureen Wavamuno believes that with the right changes and the passion of young designers, Uganda can reclaim its position as a hub for manufacturing and textile production, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, ingenuity, and adapting to the current circumstances to revive the industry.
Deep dives
The Rise and Fall of Moa Designs
Maureen Wavamuno, one of the founding members of Moa Designs in Uganda, shares her journey in the textile industry. In the late 1970s, she started her fashion house with the vision of becoming the number one fashion brand in Kampala. She established a factory, focused on mass production, and even had an outlet in a prominent location. However, due to various challenges, including looting and the influx of secondhand clothing, her business faced setbacks and eventually closed. Despite the difficulties, Maureen reminisces about the productive and prosperous times of her fashion house.
The Changing Landscape of Uganda's Industrial Area
Maureen Wavamuno recalls the industrial area where her factory was located. She describes the neighboring companies, such as Uganda Tea Company and B.E.T, and the sense of collective progress and development in that era. She highlights the systematic workflow, vertically integrated production systems, and employees' dedication. However, with the passing of time, the industrial area has undergone significant changes, with dilapidated buildings and a decline in manufacturing. Maureen believes that with the right changes and the passion of young designers, Uganda can reclaim its position as a hub for manufacturing and textile production.
Navigating the Challenges of Secondhand Clothing
Maureen Wavamuno addresses the impact of secondhand clothing on the Ugandan textile industry. She acknowledges that secondhand clothes have significantly affected local businesses, as people can buy a ready-made blouse for a fraction of the cost of producing one. The low buying power and the inability to compete with the pricing and scale of secondhand clothing have led to the decline of local fashion designers and manufacturers. However, she remains optimistic, suggesting that there is potential to work with secondhand clothing as a resource and to add value through skill development and creating decentralized manufacturing cooperatives. Maureen emphasizes the importance of flexibility, ingenuity, and adapting to the current circumstances to revive the Ugandan textile industry.
By the 1970s Uganda, like many African nations, had lost its post-independence shine. Destroying a wave of innovators, creators and manufacturers that were building a new Ugandan identity through industry. In this episode Bobby & Nikissi speak to philanthropist and businesswoman Morine Wavamunno who owned a thriving textile business and fashion house. She reflects on her dreams then and what may be possible today.
This episode was produced by Lesedi Oluko Moche with help from Patience Katushabe who is also the project manager. Directed by Nikissi Serumaga. Written by Nikissi Serumaga & Lesedi Oluko Moche with co-writer Bobby Kolade. Sound engineering & design by Ssozi Joseph