Cotton is one of the major crops in Ethiopia, due to the abundance of land and stellar growing conditions. Cotton production has been a central component of rural and urban Ethiopian life for centuries.

Nowadays, the domestic consumption of Cotton in Ethiopia has been increasing due to growing demand from existing and newly installed spinning mills and increased number of textile industry parks.

The handloom industry has shown vigorous growth, and mostly consumes cotton produced by smallholder farmers.

The sharp increase in the country’s cotton consumption was anticipated mainly due to demand from the newly opened and planned textile and apparel industrial parks.

As such, weaving plays an important role in the country’s technique arsenal. For centuries, Ethiopian artisans have been spinning cotton and weaving it into beautiful, unique pieces. Today, this ancient knowledge is combined with modern designs to truly create remarkable products that bear the strong history and evolution of techniques and crafts. Both men and women collaborate to create these pieces, and they are entirely made by hand!

After the cotton is harvested, women traditionally spin it into yard, using techniques passed on from mother to daughter, and dye the thread with organic dyes. It is then handwoven on a loom by men, using techniques passed on by their fathers before them.