Lemlem: in Ahmaric it means “to flourish or bloom”. Lemlem, a beautiful collection of clothing and accessories for women and children, was founded by supermodel Liya Kebede. You may recognize her from various campaigns and magazine covers, ranging from Estee Lauder to J.Crew, Vogue and Lanvin. Not only a supermodel, she spends her time as a United Nations Ambassador and founded Lemlem after visiting her native Ethiopia.

Seeing the economic strife in the area due to decrease in demand for handmade goods because of mass manufactured clothing and materials, Liya knew there was a way she could help while also preserving her people’s artisan traditions and handiwork. Lemlem was created as a way to provide jobs and economy stability to local Ethiopians. Local Ethiopians create these beautiful handwoven and embroidered fabrics, which are then used to make scarves, dresses, bags, and more.

Starting with a children’s line (modeled by her adorable daughter of course!) and now expanding to womenswear and accessories, Lemlem is a wonderful project that has blossomed into a shining example of how fashion is transitioning into business models that are more sustainable and ethical.

For Spring, I’m loving Lemlem’s gorgeous and understated dresses with pops of neon yellow and bright stripes, which are a fun contrast to the white gauze fabric. I picture these lovely pieces as lovely beach cover-up alternatives or perfect summer day outfits. The rest of the Lemlem collection can be found here.