Liya Kebede is one of the world’s most in-demand supermodels, walking on red carpets in New York and runways in Paris and representing brands like Estée Lauder, Louis Vuitton, and Gap, but that doesn’t stop this Ethiopian-born beauty from giving back. Kebede, a Glamour magazine Woman of the Year and one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, isn’t just a Vogue covergirl: she’s a force for change in the world, starting with her roots in Africa.
lemlem, Her line of clothing and homewares launched a decade ago, gives jobs to weavers and traditional craftspeople, many of whom are women, and is proudly made in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Madagascar. This is no vanity project: everything from yarn-spinning to embroidery is done in Africa, and lemlem, an ApparelMagic client, is committed to helping improve these artisans’ quality of life by utilizing their special skills.
From gauzy caftans handwoven in Kenya to tank tops embroidered in Rwanda, lemlem’s clothes don’t just do good, they look good. In addition to its men’s, women’s, and children’s lines, lemlem also creates home textiles and collaborates with Ancient Greek Sandals on footwear.
In addition to the line of clothing, lemlem also benefits the lemlem Foundation, a nonprofit aiming at improving maternal care in Ethiopia. Learn more about the lemlem Foundation here.
