THE BRAND STORY

Hello everyone. We are Renata andJosé, the founders of Uwalo. Renata is a highly skilled Portuguese artist, capable of inspiring even the most skeptical with her works, and José is an entrepreneur with background in Management.

When we started Uwalo, we didn't just launch a clothing brand, we created a canvas. A space where art and fashion come together, breaking boundaries and igniting creativity.

At the heart of Uwalo is our artist, whose vibrant creations and unique illustrations transform each garment into a wearable masterpiece. Inspired by the concept of "wearable art", Uwalo collections are born from boundless imagination and bold expression. 

Each collection tells a story, drawing inspiration from diverse themes that resonate deeply. From the playful narrative of 'No Monkeys in the Wild' to the cultural richness of 'Popular Portuguese Sayings', we celebrate the beauty of diversity. And this is just the beginning. We are done with rules, we just want to make art.

But it's not just about one artist. Uwalo is a collaborative space, working with visual artists, graffiti artists, musicians and creatives from all backgrounds to bring fresh perspectives and inspiration. Each partnership expands our universe and weaves different worlds of creativity into our designs.

 While we're proud to operate exclusively online, our vision goes beyond e-commerce. Our dream is to create a gallery, not a shop, that showcases the artwork that inspires our collections and offers an immersive experience. This gallery will be a bridge between inspiration and expression, where visitors can explore the art and take it home in the form of clothing.

WHY UWALO?

What does it mean? The word Uwalo means “Clothing” in Umbundu, an Angolan dialect. It was a starting point for Renata and José to honor African culture, and it served as a great source of inspiration for the artistic creations in Uwalo’s portfolio.

But why do Renata and José want pay a tribute to African culture through the brand name of the project? We have to go back a few years to understand the context. Both felt in love by the many stories that José's father told them about his homeland, Angola: the contagious joy of the people, the warmth, the music, the food, the scents, the nature, the vibrant sun, the traditional clothing, among many other things. As you might expect, inspired by these stories, Renata soon began drawing artistic creations from many of these elements. Until... the idea emerged to bring them to life in clothing pieces, so that more people could integrate these elements into their everyday lives. That’s how Uwalo was born!

At Uwalo we believe in creating fashion with meaning. Every design is a statement, every piece a story, every thread a link between art, culture and individuality.

Welcome to Uwalo, where you don't just wear fashion, you wear art.