Mariam Eshetu

The dress I’m wearing is an Ethiopian Habesha Kemis. The dress is made from cotton and comes in various shades of white and beige with colorful embroideries around the wrists and down the center of the dress. It’s typically accompanied by a head scarf called a netela with similar embroidery. A habesha kemis is worn on holidays, formal events and ceremonies. I received this dress as a gift from my mother so it has a lot of sentimental value to me. This is the first habesha kemis I’ve had with an elastic waistband, making it more form fitting and from my perspective more comfortable to wear. I also love the vibrancy of the colors in the embroidery.