Founded by former model Liya Kebede, now a designer and activist, Lemlem creates collections of beautiful handcrafted garments ideal for the new season. In Amharic, one of the official languages of Ethiopia, "Lemlem" means "to flourish": a perfect meaning for the brand, which aims to dignify the almost forgotten artisan work of traditional weavers. The brand strives to empower African women through fashion, including them in special projects that promote luxury craftsmanship through fair and ethical trade while helping local communities thrive thanks to its workshops and the support of the Lemlem Foundation.
Founder Liya Kebede Motifs that serve as inspiration, and production models, for the manufacture of garments that contribute to promoting the social inclusion of women linked to communities in different areas of the African continent, from Rwanda to Madagascar, Kenya or Ethiopia; the country of birth of Kebede that we find as the origin of the founding of this firm from which they come out in defense of a fashion as sustainable as inclusive. An ethical production model based on partnerships with various local artisan workshops in different African countries have been finalized thanks to the Lemlem Foundation. The company's philanthropic arm channels its aid to African women artisans through programs that promote better access to health care and job opportunities. Lemlem partners with an ethical artisan workshop in Ethiopia and small garment factories in Kenya and Morocco, in which 200 jobs have been created with safe and inclusive workspaces as well as fair wages and benefits. Inspiration Behind the Brand Former model Liya Kebede founded Lemlem to support the cause of sustainability in her home country of Ethiopia. Traditional weavers were losing their work to fast fashion, and at the same time, they were all losing an ancient and precious craft. Her goal was to create a sustainable alternative: to bring the wonderful craftsmanship of the weavers to the global market through Lemlem, while at the same time preserving this ancient art and creating new jobs. In the case of Lemlem, its greatest achievement has been creating hundreds of jobs for local artisans and thus breaking the cycle of poverty for many artisan families. Lemlem’s organic cotton is certified by the Better Cotton Initiative as well as the Global Organic Textile Standard, 80% of which is locally sourced in Africa. Its dyes are certified by OEKO-TEX®’s Standard 100 which guarantees that any textile bearing the label has been tested and found free from over 300 harmful substances. Collaboration with H&M As an example of its firm commitment to implementing more sustainable and ethical practices within the fashion industry, the Swedish fashion chain H&M launched a capsule collection designed together with the firm Lemlem in 2021.
In the collaboration, the traditional hand-woven materials often found in Lemlem pieces are translated into summer dresses, blouses, shorts, pants, swimwear, and accessories. Made from more sustainable materials, such as organic linen, recycled polyester, and Tencel™ Lyocell, Lemlem's signature stripes and color blocks are combined with key elements of fluidity and soft textures. The color palette of this collection-which is also temporary with the idea that the pieces can be passed down from generation to generation-includes shades of blue, white, bright orange, soft pink, neons, and a touch of pale yellow.