We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anna Crane. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anna below.

Anna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

My brother and I wanted to come up with a name that both incorporated the meaning behind the business as well as gave credit to those that make it possible. “Udada” means “sisterhood” in Swahili. Sisterhood means uplifting each other, pursuing shared goals, and empowering one another collectively. We strive to embody the meaning of sisterhood by helping women share their stories and their craft with other women around the world.

Of all the languages available, we chose Swahili to honor the first community of women we first started working with at the beginning of this adventure. While mainly working with weaving communities in eastern Kenya at this time, we hope to bring the meaning of Udada to women spanning the globe.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Working full-time as an OBGYN nurse, I was already deeply ingrained in the concept of female empowerment, both physically and mentally. Additionally, working with an all-female team of nurses and doctors, I saw every day the power of having a group of women supporting you. So, when my brother texted me from Kenya one random afternoon with the story of the women he met at the local market and an opportunity to collaborate with them, I was immediately on board. We got to work right away.

With the nine-hour time difference between Kenya and Minnesota, we often had long calls early in the morning before I headed to work. We reviewed the different products our weaving partners offered, discussed how to transport products from one continent to another, and planned how we would divide the workload. Since my brother was already running his own business in Kenya, he took on the buying, shipping, and financial aspects of the company, while I focused on product design, marketing, and sales. This division of labor worked well, as our individual strengths complemented each other’s weaknesses.

Udada works directly with KraftArt Designs, a small, women-led business in Kenya. The founders of KraftArt Designs, Jeddy and Tia, helped us establish connections between Udada and villages in Eastern Kenya. By facilitating relationships with local artisans, our partners at KraftArt Designs enabled us to build meaningful connections with individual women and their communities.

What makes Udada unique is the ability to know exactly where—and who—your products come from. Once the women in the weaving community finish their work, they place a tag with their name on the product. Customers can then use this name to find their weaver and learn her story on our website.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Josh, my older brother, and I are currently the only employees of Udada. Like any brother-sister relationship, we don’t always agree on everything and have been known to bicker occasionally. However, I’ve found that when working with him on Udada, we have a smooth and strong partnership. We’re both deeply passionate about Udada and the good it can do, so we’ve poured everything we have into it.

When we don’t see eye to eye on something, we’re good at letting the other make the call if it falls more within their area of expertise. For business or financial decisions, we typically go with his preference. When it comes to design or social media, I usually take the lead.

This journey has been a unique and special experience for us, and I wouldn’t choose anyone else to partner with.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

At Udada, integrity is at the heart of everything we do, and we’ve built a reputation for honoring the artisans who bring our vision to life. Our primary focus is not just on the goods we offer but on the incredible women behind them. While the products may draw customers in, the true story lies in the artisans who create them. We are dedicated to ensuring these women receive full credit, with each product tagged with the name of its maker. Customers can then connect with the artisan directly through our website and learn about her unique journey. By prioritizing their stories, talent, and resilience, we’ve become known for celebrating the women, not just their craft, and ensuring they are recognized as the heart and soul of Udada.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.UdadaCollective.com
• Instagram: @UdadaCollective
• Facebook: Udada Collective
• Other: Etsy: UdadaCollective
  Faire: Udada Collective