Sarah Nakisanze

Sarah Nakisanze is a multifaceted fashion designer, educator, and researcher from Kampala, Uganda, known for her work with indigenous materials, particularly barkcloth, in eco-product design.

Biography

She is a lecturer at Makerere University's Margaret Trowel School of Fine and Industrial Art and engages with artisanal communities to promote sustainable design practices and craftsmanship. Her research focuses on visual culture, fashion, material culture, and trade relations between the North and South.

Sarah Nakisanze is a pioneering Ugandan entrepreneur who mainly belongs to the world of eco-conscious fashion and cultural heritage in Uganda. Sarah is the founder of Easy Afric Designs, and is driven by her passion for preserving Uganda’s unique traditions through sustainable fashion. Her company focuses on creating fashion accessories, home decor, and corporate gifts from the ancient Ugandan fabric known as barkcloth-a textile rich in history and cultural value. With each handcrafted piece, her mission is to build a bridge between Uganda’s past and its sustainable future.

Beyond her design work, Nakisanze is an activist, facilitating workshops on rural crafts and HIV/AIDS awareness. She holds a BA and MA in Fine Arts from Makerere University and is currently pursuing a PhD that explores the empowerment of artisanal women and artists through cultural aesthetics. Nakisanze aims to promote traditional Ugandan design on a global scale, integrating it with modern eco-friendly practices. She lives in Kampala with her two children.

Career

Sarah’s journey began in her childhood, learning the craft of sewing from her mother. Growing up surrounded by fabrics and threads, she developed a natural inclination toward the art of fabric manipulation. Later, she pursued a degree in art and design, which became the foundation for her future as a designer and entrepreneur. Over the years, Sarah has honed her craft and expanded her network, sharing her knowledge and providing training to the artisans who work with her. Her ability to blend creativity with community-minded entrepreneurship has allowed her to build a brand that is as socially impactful as it is stylish. Her artistic ambitions solidified when she worked at an art gallery in Uganda, where she observed the influx of imported African textiles. This experience sparked a determination to promote Ugandan-made products, especially barkcloth-a material that is part of Uganda’s cultural heritage and has been recognized by UNESCO.

"Barkcloth was more than just fabric; it was a symbol of Uganda’s identity," she explains. "I wanted to prove that our own textiles could be elevated to high-end fashion and decor items, and that’s how Easy Afric Designs was born."

Building Easy Afric Designs and the Birth of LUSUSU

Sarah established Easy Afric Designs to create products that were not only beautiful but also sustainable and ethical. Her brand, LUSUSU, meaning “simply authentic,” reflects her commitment to producing eco-friendly, Fair Trade items with cultural roots. The central fabric, barkcloth, is harvested from the Mutuba (fig) tree using a process that allows the tree to regenerate, ensuring a sustainable cycle that can last up to 20 years.

Beyond fashion, LUSUSU has a deeper purpose: to provide economic opportunities for Ugandan communities. Sarah’s venture collaborates with local artisans and women’s groups, such as the Ngalo Women’s Group, where over 45 women contribute to the production process. This community-driven approach fosters economic stability, skills training, and empowerment for Ugandan women—a cause that Sarah holds close to her heart.

For Sarah Nakisanze, success is not merely measured in profits but in the impact she creates. Every LUSUSU piece that is sold supports a community, preserves a tradition, and promotes a sustainable future. Through her work, Sarah is showing the world that fashion can indeed be both beautiful and meaningful.