Ugandan Startup Wazi Vision Crafts Affordable Eyewear from Cow Horns

Transforming Waste into Vision Care

• 💡 Ugandan startup Wazi Vision is transforming discarded cow horns into eco-friendly and affordable eyeglass frames.
• ♻️ This initiative converts a slaughterhouse waste product into stylish and durable eyewear.

The Material's Unique Properties

• 🐂 Cow horn material is highlighted as unique and difficult to break, offering flexibility to be shaped at any angle.
• 🛠️ Horn technicians process and flatten the material before using computer-aided design and programmable machines for crafting.

Addressing Affordable Eye Care

• 💰 The social enterprise was founded by Brenda Katwasj due to the high cost of eye tests, even with insurance, making eye care inaccessible for low-income earners.
• 🌍 Wazi Vision's managing director, Grace Cance, explains that using abundant cow horn waste is their solution to provide accessible vision care.
• 🛒 While horns are used for bangles and earrings, Wazi Vision specifically transforms them into eye frames.

Sourcing and Production Challenges

• ⚠️ Sourcing horns can be difficult as appetittoars prioritize bulk buyers over artisan crafters.
• 💲 The resulting custom frames are retailed at an affordable price point, between $9 and $20.