The Ethiopian beauty and supermodel, Liya Kebede is using her celebrity status to make a heartfelt impact in her native county. In 2007, Liya created Lemlem, a fashion line with clothes and accessories made from high-grade, hand-woven Ethiopian cotton. With its subtle play on casual chic, Lemlem offers a fresh twist to the style scene. The reviews from fashion aficionados indicate that Liya’s creation definitely lives up to its Amharic definition of to flourish.

A fearless champion of empowering under served communities, the inspiration for Lemlem came to Liya when she realized that the livelihood of local Ethiopian weavers was threatened by a fall in the demand of their goods. Liya collaborated with the traditional weavers to provide an avenue for them to earn revenue while presenting to international fashion scene the textures and simplicity that is uniquely Ethiopian.

Photo credit: www.Lemlem.com