Eventually, Prince realized that starting a company that provided training and employment to children’s parents, often single mothers, would create a long-lasting impact on the community he yearned to support. Thus, he founded Huruma Clothing Co, LLC, selling imported clothing from refugee women in Uganda. Huruma offers a range of stylish products, including bomber jackets, hats, bags, and shirts, that carry the rich cultural heritage of African textiles.
Initially, Prince and his business partner sold Huruma clothing products at farmers’ markets and pop-ups in San Diego. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were forced to stay home. So, Prince approached IRC San Diego, who enrolled him in their Small Business Program to help with his business.
He worked with his business counselor to improve his online presence and apply for local and COVID-19 grants. As a result, Huruma Clothing has steadily grown its customer base in San Diego and the U.S. through farmer’s markets, pop-ups, and online orders.
Prince needed capital to purchase more inventory to meet customer demands as his business grew. He returned to IRC San Diego for support. He worked with his business counselor to apply for and receive two $8,000 microloans from IRC’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Both microloans were SBA-backed loans. He used the capital to purchase inventory and supply his business partners in San Diego County ethnic markets to expand. In addition, this capital injection supported Prince in securing a new partner in Houston, Texas.
Prince hopes to work full-time for Huruma and expand his direct retail markets across the U.S. and beyond, further solidifying his position as a leader in ethical entrepreneurship. Prince is grateful for the services he received through IRC’s Small Business Program. “I am thankful for the help from IRC San Diego, the team that made my dream a reality. “