Five years after its inception, Lemlem has gone from strength to strength, evolving from a children-only line to a lifestyle brand that spans womenswear and home accents.
Despite appearing thrice on the cover of Vogue, Liya Kebede has never forgotten her roots. To inspire economic independence in her homeland of Ethiopia, the supermodel-philanthropist—and former World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador—founded Lemlem, a collection of tunics, dresses, scarves, and bags that promote the centuries-old art of hand-weaving. (Fittingly, Lemlem is Amharic for “flourish” or “bloom.”) Five years after its inception, Lemlem has gone from strength to strength, evolving from a children-only line to a lifestyle brand that spans womenswear and home accents. Despite everything, Ethiopia remains at the forefront of Kebede’s mind. “The sights and smells of Ethiopia are always an inspiration to me,” she told Moda Operandi in July.