The “Made in Rwanda” campaign is helping to increase exports by small and medium businesses in different industries. Since 2017, Rwanda’s total exports have increased by 69 percent. Rwanda doesn’t have a market for their creations. The products are exported to the US, where they are sold in more than 100 boutiques for prices ranging from $28 to $225.

The textile industry in the country, like in most East Africa, had been dormant but then governments in the region decided to phase out and eventually ban the import of second-hand clothes. Handspun Hope is the only company in Rwanda engaged in processing wool for clothing. The company teaches women how to make hand-made knit apparel out of merino sheep and angora rabbit wool.

Handspun Hope imports merino sheep from Kenya and employs local farmers to look after them. After the farmers shear the sheep, the wool is collected and brought to Handspun Hope’s workshop, where it goes through many stages before products are made.