Ethiopian Fashion Between Local Heritage and Global Horizons: Insights from Young Designers in Addis Ababa

This article offers an exploratory overview of the contemporary Ethiopian textile, fashionand apparel system. The contribution originated from a teaching experience in AddisAbaba within the framework of the AICS–UNIDO-funded project “Ethiopia: Support toYouth and Women through Products and Services Development and Public–Private Partnershipsin the Fashion Value Chain” which prompted the authors to deepen their understanding ofthe local fashion ecosystem. Drawing on informal conversations, observations, and ethno-graphically oriented field notes, the authors developed the analysis through desk researchand a review of the relevant literature. The picture that emerges reveals both the creativityand strong entrepreneurial drive of Ethiopian designers, alongside the structural barriersthey commonly face, including limited access to materials, investment, and institutionalsupport. Designers are shown to negotiate ongoing tensions between cultural heritage andglobal aesthetics, while also contending with local consumption patterns situated betweensecond-hand clothing markets and international brands. These dynamics highlight both thechallenges and the potential of the Ethiopian fashion scene, pointing to opportunities formutual learning and for fostering fashion practices that are sustainable, globally relevant,and firmly grounded in local contexts.