So now that you know where my inspiration for fashion comes from ….
My next interview highlights one of the pioneer designers from Ethiopia Genet Kebede
After studying fashion design and garment construction in Italy and Argentina, Genet Kebede founded her brand Paradise Fashion which is a well-known fashion brand in Ethiopia established in 1992 almost 30 years ago.
Paradise Fashion is inspired by the love of traditional Ethiopian handweaving textiles , the desire to preserve the beauty of this tradition and the ability to empower women across Ethiopia with sustainable employment opportunities. This inspiration evolved into her Ethiopian fashion line, with unique, beautiful and sustainable women’s clothing.
Genet’s ethical fashion line combines traditional Ethiopian handwoven fabrics with contemporary design, where she creates limited-production collections of handmade scarves, kaftans, modern Ethiopian dresses and other handmade garments.
The fabrics she uses in her handwoven clothing are as unique as the loom weavers with whom she works, meaning that each item is an exclusive work of Ethiopian art.
Paradise Fashion’s product lines include, couture women’s wear for weddings and special occasions, beachwear, scarves and shawls as well as Paradise Home that includes pillow cases, decorative throws, wall hangings and table sets.
The brand name paradise is the translation of her name in Amharic GENET. However she is in the process of rebranding it to GENET.
Her advice for young upcoming designers is to love what they do and to update themselves about what is going on in the global fashion world. She says we can learn a lot from social media and especially fashion websites. “If we educate ourselves, we can become competitive in the global fashion market”. “WE can be unique”.
“Brand legacy is fundamental” to promote the authentic Ethiopian hand weaving textile products and in her case, ladies wear to be recognized globally.
“I have been working hard for the last 29 years for my brand legacy to have a significant value for our hand-woven textiles.” Genet K.
Website: www.paradisefashion.net
Facebook Page: paradisefashionG
Twitter: @PARADISEET
Instagram: paradisefashionet
