Liya Kebede’s brand Lemlem offers Ethiopian craftsmanship that sells

The supermodel implemented a sustainable approach while sponsoring her foundation for African women

Liya Kebede’s brand Lemlem offers Ethiopian craftsmanship that sells

Source: Financial Times 

By Tom Wilson

When supermodel Liya Kebede was growing up in Addis Ababa, she wore comfortable Ethiopian clothing — ample dresses made from strips of woven cotton sewn together. But traditional clothes were beginning to disappear, replaced by the spread of western fast fashion and access to cheap second-hand garments.

Since 2007, her fashion label Lemlem has revived commercial interest in Ethiopian weaving, putting back on the map the artisanship that was at risk of falling into oblivion.

“I wanted to reinject an energy and fuel back into the artisans and into the artisanal industry,” Ms Kebede explains. “The idea is to inspire others to look at Africa as a source of high-end artisanal work, and not just be a place to which you outsource for cheap labour. Read more