Dear Customers

As an Ethiopian American, I have always admired the beautiful traditional fabric designs of Ethiopia. One day I said, Why doesn't somebody use the designs in a necktie for men?. The only ties I ever see men wearing are of European design, whether they are stripes, polka dots, plaid, paisley, etc. I only found a couple of silk Ethiopian-designed men's ties on the market. I thought maybe the neckties could be made from traditional Ethiopian woven material and designs. The traditional Ethiopian weavers are called "shemane" and produce all the lovely "tibeb or tillet" border materials you so often see on women's dresses. Then I thought about the whole process, and I became even more interested in the initiative. So many important issues that I care about came into focus. I figured out a way to incorporate fair trade, micro-enterprise, women's empowerment, entrepreneurship, indigenous design, organic material, and environmentally safe features while making men look and do good by purchasing them. I was lucky enough to find a sewing school in Addis Ababa that I could support by providing sewing machines. It took a full year to show the women the proper length and width for the ties, but eventually the necktie became the teaching tool for learning to sew. After the students become proficient in sewing ties, they are given a sewing machine to take home and start their own business. The school sends the ties to me in the US, and I sell them primarily from the website. Occasionally, I will do fair trade or African fashion shows, and I have put them in some Ethiopian stores in Washington, DC.

Andrew Laurence, Founder