Yara Yassin and Rania Rafie are the two young women behind Up-Fuse which is a lifestyle brand and social enterprise, based in Cairo, that promotes a sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle by designing and producing environmentally and socially responsible bags and products that support local communities in Egypt. In cooperation with “Roh El Shabab” NGO in Cairo, they value transparency in production and working conditions while promoting the skills and talents of local artisans.
The two women met in Berlin where they were studying design and stumbled upon a sewing course in betahaus Academy and from there on their story and brand have been growing and expanding.
In April 2017, Yara and Rania took home $50,000 for winning first place in the WeMENA Challenge, a business competition created by the World Bank and YouNoodle.
Rania is the Managing Director of Up-fuse and holds a bachelor degree in Product Design, she believes she can use her knowledge to make the world a better place for all. As for Yara, she is the Design Director and has a passion for design and creation in addition to sustainability. They are both active social entrepreneurs in the MENA region.
