Dress For Success

Allen dreamed of creating designs well before her wish came true. In fact, over 10 years ago when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Allen said “I dream of becoming either a doctor or fashion designer.”

Joining Children of Uganda in 2002 (2 years after the death of her parents), Allen grew up in our program attending both primary and secondary school. Chosen for her talent in music and dance, she was also a member of our 2012 and 2014 Tour of Light troupe.

Thanks to her hard work and her loving sponsor’s support, she then advanced to Makerere University. In January of 2019, Allen graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design & Fine Arts.

Right out of university, Allen took a textile and tailoring course and within a short time she left her mentor to start a business of her own. She established Allen Designs – her own custom tailoring and design company – and since then has tailored thousands of attires for women and men.

Allen shares her journey of transformation in the special video message below:

Her business has been on fire since March due to her willingness to design several custom-made dresses for our new recruits, as well as some of our current students. Team members have long shared that students (especially the younger ones) wear tattered hand-me-down clothes and when they receive brand new threads they can hardly contain their exuberance. Allen puts her heart into everything she makes and the impact has been amazing.

Allen told us that making dresses for new recruits – Shifrah, Jane Rachel, Sophia, Dinah, Hope and Pamela – was like granting fairytales for the young girls and our little princesses are now primed for a ball of their very own.

She has also designed dresses, jumpers, shirts and dusters for COU staff members, sponsors and alumni students in addition to her orders from various individuals and groups within Uganda. You can see a sample of her beautiful work in the slideshow below:

Allen is a shining example of a student who came from the most humble of beginnings and made great sacrifices to get to where she is today. She is also a mother now of a sweet little girl (the best dressed baby in all of Uganda) and what a joy it is to see this once young, vulnerable girl all grown up and raising a family of her own while running a thriving business that she founded.

The entire COU team is bursting with pride to see all of Allen’s successes in life.  

If you would like to invest in Allen’s design house and receive a one of a kind garment – please call (800) 531-9612 or e-mail pamela@childrenofuganda.org and we will get the ball rolling. Your donation will help Allen grow her business and she is graciously donating some of the proceeds back to COU.