Aleph Design Addis Ethiopia

Aleph has been in business 9 years.  The first year she worked from her home.  She has had her shop for 8 years, 6 in her present location.  Her traditional cultural dresses are well known locally.  She has sent dresses to Dubai, London, America, South Africa and Germany.  She usually sends them with people who are travelling.  Her sketches reflect her artistic abilities.  Customers tell her what they would like.  She sketches the outfit, adds color, takes measurements and the customer chooses the fabric, the woven pattern, the embroidery pattern and leaves the shop to make the garment. I love her gentle way.  https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/aleph-design-addis-ethiopia

 Enjoy the show

Negist Handcraft, Clothing and Textile Store Addis

Negist is an upscale Handcraft, Clothing and Textile Store strategically located in an upscale community across the street from the American School and near Embassies. You will enjoy virtually shopping to discover their excellent products. For us there was lots of room to look around, very pleasant, cool surroundings.  Sammy Abdella founded Negist in 2005 with his mother, sister and two artisans working out of his family home in Ethiopia. Bridging contemporary demand with age-old traditions, Negist brings the vitality and rich heritage of Ethiopia to life.’ (http://tfocanada.ca/docs.php?page=5_5&chapid=5).  I love the light weight soft leather tie dyed bags. The company works with local designers, embroiderers, weavers and cotton spinners to produce high-end, handmade textiles from natural materials.   From the main shop, you can step into the weavers and spinners area to see them hard at work.  The looms are made of bamboo, the patterns authentically traditional. ‘Negist works with over 47 permanent artisans and exports its products to all corners of the globe, from Europe, to Japan, to Australia, to Africa, to the Middle East and Canada.’ Sam, Negist’s Owner tells us that his business was started by his mother, Aster Retta who began in her own home with only one loom.

We were interested to talk with Sam. He says travelling to show at Trade Shows is very expensive! • Air fare • Accomodation • Cost of renting a booth • Cost of transporting display • Employee time away • He has participated in Trade Fairs in Toronto but more lately New York • Sam lived five years in the US (Virginia and New York). That accounts for his smooth American accent. • Employees’ Comments: • Sam is like family • Sam cares for his employees • Everyone loves Sam!  Enjoy the visit:  https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/negists-handcraft-store-addis-ethiopia

Four Businesses in Addis

K Design:

We have met several ‘wise old (not old) owls’ who have been in business for a number of years and have learned much from their vast experience.  Rahel Zewde, the vibrant owner of K-Design takes pride in her family-owned business established by her mother Kidist (hence the name K-Design) who began as a dressmaker.

Rahel Zewde, Owner of K-Design

It was in the first of her three shops that I saw Ethiopian cotton and rayon for the first time.  I could not believe the superior quality of the fabric.  Rayon looks like silk.  Such beauty!  K-Designs employs 50 weavers.  Rahel aims to give them something to do every week.  Many are illiterate but use a phone.  Phones work without electricity.  Electricity is a big problem.  K-Design prides itself in providing employment to so many, giving them a stable income.   Rahel is a true business woman.  I was impressed to see her price list and the incredible quality of her products. Her three outlet stores are strategically located, each targeting a different market. The duty free shop at the airport carries only one brand of scarves, K-Design. 

Just to add a little story to show Rahel’s underlying compassion and probably one of her motivating reasons for employing 50 weavers, we were travelling from one of her stores to a second.  The car was stopped in traffic and a beggar came to her window.  She quietly took from her stash of coins and placed it in his hand.  I only wish we could do this but we have to behave ourselves and help by working with those who can really help in the positive way of giving employment. The slides will bring K-Design to life.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/k-design-addis-ethiopia-ethiopian-weaving-and-embroidery

Three Designers, Three Locations, Three Stories:

TG Designer has her store and production area on the second floor of a mall.

Maedot Tibet has her tiny store on a street with good walk by traffic.

Buley explaining the hand embroidered design to VA Allan with Maedot behind the counter of her store.

Helina Daniel’s family business is on the outskirts of Abbis.

Helina on the left.  Beluy second from the right.

Helina’s son Beluy joined us for two of the visits. His contribution as a family member was invaluable, not only for his humor and excellent English but his knowledge of the business.  As well, he came to each of our workshops often helping with the technical side.   Have a look to see how each business has its own vibrancy in distinctly different settings.  

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/three-fashion-designers-three-locations-three-stories-addis-ethiopia

Lila Bring Hope

Lila’s:

It started out as a normal morning.  Our schedule said we would be going to a Jewelry and Handcraft Business called Lila’s.  When we arrived at the workshop, we were met by Gelila who began telling her story.  Five years ago she had just graduated from Nursing School and could not find a job in her field so she began working as a tour guide in Addis.  When she visited the TB Hospital and Dump Site she decided she had to do something.  Lila tells her story best:

www.lilaproducts.com 

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/lila-74339269

After we visited Lila’s workshop, she offered to take us to the Dump where the landslide occurred.  Here is how NY Times described the scene on March 8, 2017. ‘It was not immediately clear what caused the landslide at the Koshe Garbage Landfill, which buried several makeshift homes and concrete buildings. The landfill has been a dumping ground for the capital’s garbage for more than 50 years.

About 150 people were there when the landslide occurred, said Assefa Teklemahimanot, a resident. Mayor Diriba Kuma said 37 people had been rescued and were receiving medical treatment. Two had serious injuries.

Many people at the landfill had been scavenging items to make a living, but others live at the site because renting homes there, which are largely built of mud and sticks, is relatively inexpensive.

“In the long run,” Mr. Kuma said, “we will conduct a resettling program to relocate people who live in and around the landfill.”

Around 500 waste-pickers are believed to work at the landfill every day, sorting through the debris from the capital’s estimated four million residents. City officials say that close to 300,000 tons of waste are collected each year from the capital, most of it dumped at the landfill.

Since 2010, city officials have warned that the landfill is running out of room and is being hemmed in by nearby housing and schools.

City officials have been trying in recent years to turn the garbage into a source of clean energy with a $120 million investment. The Koshe waste-to-energy center, which has been under construction since 2013, is expected to generate 50 megawatts of electricity when completed.

Ethiopia, which has one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, is under a state of emergency imposed in October after several months of sometimes deadly protests by demonstrators demanding wider political freedoms.’

Now, an update.  We walked with Gelila.  She turned and said, ‘No pictures, there is a newly imposed ban on pictures.’  We walked through the area where she had first set up her workshop.  On the one side behind tall, thick walls are homes of rich, wealthy people.  On the other side of the road, living shelters made with any steel, cardboard or plastic people can find.  Goats were running freely.  Then we came to the area where they are actively removing 50 year old compost looking for bodies.  We were careful where to step because oversized dump trucks were hauling loads of debris away and dropping large chunks of black goop.  The stench was unbearable.  I hate it when flies crawl around my nose but my problems were minor!  Most dump truck drivers and back hoe operators were wearing face mask covers.  The army soldiers lined the walkways armed with long guns.  Two large fire trucks were parked on a side street.  They are still finding bodies.  There is a media ban.  Gelila said she heard the count is over 200 found.  In the write up above they mention a waste to energy center under construction.  This building is right at the top of the landslide site.  Allan asked if there might be any chance this mammoth structure might have made the land unstable.  No answer!

We said little.  Observed more than we wanted to see.  A school bus van pulled in and about 20 children, all in uniform got off the bus and were escorted down a side walkway past a family group huddled in obvious grief.  Each child carried a bamboo 15 inch candle wicked stick lit as they somberly walked.  We had to be very careful to stay out of the way of the big dump trucks whose main aim was to move quickly to destination to dump their load, only to return to the back hoe for more.  Gelila said that this situation has made people more aware of the plight of the garbage pickers.  She said lots of water has been donated for example.  Many have said the squatters should have been moved from this dangerous location a long time ago.  I felt the whole scene was one that humanity should not experience!  Never have I seen anything so awful.

The good part of this is there is a small way we can help.  More on this later after we work on documenting our research and plan and talk to the Rotary Club here.  In some cases, Rotary has place shelter boxes in a disaster area.  I don’t know the count on the displaced people who were really displaced in the first place but they did have shelter and garbage to sort through.  I do know the government has put the media ban on it.  I do know we are here on the ground and that the scene is awful.  

The Flood at the Hotel

The Washington Hotel 5th Floor Room

Our Little Table Before the Flood

The Side Door Where The Water Came Pouring In.

                      Hotel Entrance:  Front Desk in Background                           (Notice how clean the floor is!)

The Flood.  Well, it all started off quite innocently around 4:30 in the afternoon.  We were in our hotel room, 5^th floor when a torrential downpour started.  It seemed heavy and there was hail but we didn’t think much about it.  As it was time to head down to the ‘bar’ for our afternoon relaxation time, we did just that.  We chose our cozy two chairs and placed our usual order.     

Suddenly water began to flood in through the side doors.  What happened next was a sight to behold.  Waiters, bell hops, front desk people all came running.  They took their shoes and socks off and lined them up on the front desk, then rolled their pant legs up.  First the carpets got rolled up and put on the tables.  Then all mops and brooms came flying in along with buckets and pails of all sizes.  Then all 20 staff, dressed in their white shirts, bow ties and black pants rolled up to the knees, began pushing water toward the front doors.  From our perspective (sitting now on the high bar stools with our mouths open), all we could see were 20 elbows rising and pushing, rising and pushing.  Then water began pouring down from the second floor.  Allan wanted to move but where to?  Our drinks were sitting on the counter ready to be delivered so Allan acted as bar tender.  The whole scene went on for over ½ hour.  We still laugh with the staff about it because the situation was ridiculous.  They said it had not really happened that way before.  The rainy season is not due to start until June.  Climate change maybe?

 The third picture above shows the front desk in the far distance where all the shoes and socks were lined up.  In this picture you can almost see the x-ray machine at the front door where we are checked each time we enter.

We love the hotel.  As you can see, the lower area is cozy, the dining room quite elegant, the food in good and the staff is so friendly.  With all the kafuffle, no harm was done, the staff pulled together to be an awesome team and we enjoyed the entertainment!

Dondoors Textile and Handcraft Open A New Store in A Mall

Dondoors  

Aaliyah and her father, Mehamud took us to the Mall where Aaliyah has designed and is setting up a shop.  Aaliyah is in her third year of a degree in Architecture and obviously has a flare for Interior Decorating.  In fact, she is already designing interiors for businesses.  We discovered that many of the businesses are being financed by energetic people like Aaliyah, well-educated and doing contract work to support the development of their business.  Mehamud, Aaliyah’s father, established the business three years ago.  He graduated from the Ehtiopian Leather Industry Development Institute three year program a long time ago he says, then worked in the government textile industry as a factory floor supervisor. This new shop is a brave move because rental space in malls is very expensive.   The slide show at the end will show how Aaliyah is combining the traditional with the modern to develop the display areas.  Allan was impressed with her choice of his favorite color scheme, brown and gold.  The following Sat they took us to their factory site.

 Mehamud owns the building where their production factory is.  I loved the character of the entrance way.  They have 30 machines, do volume discounting for large orders.  He says they need to work on marketing their products.  The new store outlet will bring new opportunities for them they hope.  Orders mean work.  As their flyer says, ‘Thank you for helping us help them change their lives and the lives of their siblings.’

It was fascinating to watch the weaver at work.  Hand woven, a scarf takes 6 to 8 hours to weave.  Traditional is right, the loom is made of bamboo. 

It will be interesting to follow this business.  Although Aaliyah appears shy, I found her so enjoyable to work with in the development of a new product that we hope to hear more about as time goes on. 

Meet Aaliyah through the slideshow.

https://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/dondoors-ethiopian-handcrafts

Ethiopia: Our Introduction To Addis and EWEA

We began Allan’s CESO assignment with EWEA, the Ethiopian Women Exporters’ Association officially on Monday March 20^th, 2017.  The introductory meeting was held in the office behind Hadia Mohammed’s grocery story.  Hadia is the president of EWEA. Together with a group of strong women committed to helping women grow their businesses and export internationally established EWEA in 2000.  Behind this is the desire to empower, inspire, create opportunity and employment to lift women and their families out of poverty.  The owners of these businesses who are are clients are from the upper middle class segment of Ethiopian society.  A positive approach in an environment of extreme poverty and pockets of affluence.  CESO Regional Reps were anxious to outline how the two weeks would be set up for the assignment.  It was quickly decided that there would be three full days of workshops Wed, Thurs and Friday of the following week.  CESO would arrange and pay for a meeting room, coffee breaks and lunch all to be held at the Washington Hotel (very convenient as this is the hotel where we are staying).   We would aim for a mini Trade Show on the Friday.  Allan will prepare a SWOT analysis for each business visited and Lydia will put a Power Point together so each business can present their business to the workshop participants.  The ideal number to attend would be 20-25.  We were ‘turned over’ to Workaferahu, our coordinator, who is arranging site visits to some 20 businesses of the 60 member organization during the first week, beginning immediately! 

Hadia (Pres EWEA) Belay, (CESO Rep)
Lydia and Allan (CESO VA's) Ziad, CESO

Belay, Hadia, Lydia, Workaferhu (Our Coordination) and Allan

The phone is the ultimate communication tool for action here.  Everyone seems to have a Smart Phone.  They say even the beggars have a phone!  Phone numbers are more important than addresses.  Texting is convenient because for us to understand a phone number or even to identify who is calling is so difficult if not impossible for us.  Workaferahu had prepared an excellent schedule with phone numbers, times of visits, etc for us.  One thing that has amazed us is the absolute promptness of the clients for the appointed time.  You just know when the phone buzzes that it is exactly the appointed time and they are waiting for us outside the hotel or in the lobby.  Workaferahu is like a mother.  She makes sure we are on site, then makes sure the next client is picking us up, then checks to see if we are there.  Amazing really.  It has worked like clockwork.   The one factor that cannot be controlled is traffic.  One funny story is a client came to the hotel to pick us up but his driver was stuck in traffic.  It was decided that we would get a taxi, preferable a ‘Lucy Taxi’ (they are named after Lucy, the Cradle of Civilization beginning).  Lucy taxis are clean (the seat belts work and don’t get your clothes filthy) and very reliable.  However, the traffic was so jammed that there were no Lucy’s.  After walking several blocks, our client asked if we would mind travelling with him in a Lada.  No problem.  Now that was a trip!  Allan and I were in the back seat with the client.  I don’t think it was our weight that made the back end sound like it wouldn’t get us there!  We managed the trip with lots of good laughs.

Another funny story was the last client of the day was to deliver us back to the hotel.  We headed out and after some time began to realize that they did not know their way to the hotel.  We were given a sheet that we printed out at home which gives the name of the hotel, phone numbers of CESO reps, etc.  So, I gave the list to the client.  The driver stopped beside a policemen who wasn’t any help.  The client’s phone had no time left on the card.  Fortunately we were able to give them the antique CESO phone and they were able to phone the hotel to get directions to the hotel.

In a city of 4 million you can imagine what traffic is like!  The main streets are four lane, crowded with a few real stop lights with a mix of donkeys, hand carts, the biggest double trucks that exist, people selling everything from mops to produce in homemade bamboo wheel barrows and more.  Drivers have to be aggressive to cut in, cut off, go around broken down busses, etc.  Line ups can be blocks long waiting for taxis, buses, the train that doesn’t travel very often, etc.  Once you manage to get to your turn off point, you head on to rough side-alley like paths.  Pollution is terrible.  Black clouds of smoke emit from exhaust pipes all around.  Some people wisely wear a face mask!  In our hotel room on the 5^th floor we have learned to open the door to the hall and have the wind blowing out instead of the pollution coming in.

 Each time we go to a site visit, I am always amazed at the atmosphere within the business.  Many businesses operate in a very confined space because it is expensive to rent space.  But, as you will see they do such a great job of using the space to advantage. 

Before we move on to specific business sites, a comment about begging which is something we encounter each time we travel.  There are different types of beggars and different approaches by our drivers to the beggars.  For our part, we keep our car windows closed and do not make eye contact.  Personally the situation that I find most upsetting is all the little boys coming to the window begging, some not a lot older than our little grandson.  Our client yesterday said that the government must address this because it is a breeding ground for raising boys to a life of crime and drugs.  She mentioned glue sniffing in particular.   So how do our clients and taxi drivers react to beggars?  A few keep small coins for older beggars.  Most speak in the native tongue and do not give.  Beggars are a symptom of a much bigger underlying problem of no income, so safety security net, hunger, victims of the drought moving into the city with no means to earn a living, no place to live.  The ‘other side’ is not pretty!  Our clients take a very positive approach.  Through sales, employment is created and people can live with dignity. 

 So, we were off to do two site visit the first afternoon.  Over the next few blogs I want to share with you stories of some of the businesses we visited.  Each is unique in its own way.  Overall, I want to say that I have never seen such quality cottons and rayon’s and such beautiful leather.  The cottons are so soft, all hand woven, the rayon’s have a sheen that makes me think it is silk.  The leather is beyond belief.  And the people.  They have opened their business and hearts to us, sharing with us the pride they have in their product, how they have managed to develop their business, the challenges they have faced and are facing.  In all of this I have to say we are so fortunate to have had this opportunity to be here and be so close to such wonderful people.