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Ethiopian fashion has come a very far way, so much so that now the traditional dress is only worn by people in the countryside. Although made with same designs and materials these modern styles are said to be cool and very trendy. Amazing and gorgeous is how the clothes are being described.

In 2008 at the International Festival held in Houston, Texas an Ethiopian Fashion Show was also a highlight and the fashions were well received by everyone.

It was highly praised and featured conventional, cultural clothes and modern fashions.

What was actually done is the creation of designs with combination of both the old tradition and the new age of fashion. Habesha qemis is the name of the traditional Ethiopian coffee dress. It is an ankle length dress made of white cotton and is also worn by the Rasta women in the African Diaspora. These dresses are decorated with the combine colors of red, gold and green which symbolize the stripes of the Ethiopian Flag. Learn more too about Jamaican Fashion at http://www.getjamaica.com/

The materials for these clothes are most times weaved on traditional looms using centuries old patterns and designs. The clothing is usually hand made without the use of chemicals, which adds considerable value to its product. The production for these is mainly of 100% cotton. Local cocoons are used to spin silk and the textiles are generally hand woven and natural dye is used in the creation of soft unique goods.

Dyes are used for adding unusual and vibrant colors to traditional scarves. The modern fashions are chic and colorful, but still reflect subdue, simple and refine.

Many people are now fascinated in this fashion because although everyone want to be seen in traditional clothes they still want to be in style. Some of the styles are made with light organic cotton which allows ventilation, aids in maintaining an even body temperature and it also absorbs body moisture. The outfits have also been thoughtfully designed to allow for maximum comfort and the style is sweet, beautiful and classically refined.

These clothing choices are a great way to make a fashion statement while telling others of your heritage. They also include men and women’s pants suits and children attire. Some of the shirts are worn by older men who represent elevated status in their communities. It is also possible to find accessories that go along with the fashion such as shoes, hats, belts, handbags and jewelry that will add exotic flavor to any ensemble.

What You Need To Know About Ethiopian Dresses

The women populace of Ethiopian wear clothes that are made from a cotton cloth called shemma and this is used to make dresses. These traditional dresses are called habesha gemis; this is a cotton cloth, woven in long strips and sewn together. This is usually white in color with additional shades above the lower hem. They sometimes weave shiny threads into the fabric for an elegant look. If you are interested in wearing this fashion you have to wait awhile, because it generally take about two to three weeks to make enough cloth for one dress. You can identify these Ethiopian dresses based on the designs as the bottom of the garment or shirt may be decorated with patterns, plus the neckline and sleeves are also decorated with the same materials. Necklaces and bracelets from silver and gold are worn on arms and feet to complete the look.

There are now various designer dinner dresses which combine traditional fabric with modern styles and these are being worn now by ladies who live in the cities. Some people in the country still wear the traditional clothes day by day. In the cities and towns western clothes are very popular though on special occasions some people wear their traditional clothes when attending Christmas, New Year or wedding celebrations. Some women from this region will wear the Ethiopian dresses even when they are not in their own country because they are proud of their heritage.

The men clothes are pants with knee length shirts with a white collar and sometimes sweater. They also wear knee high socks, while women do not wear any socks. Both men and women wear shawls also known as the neTela. They are worn in different styles for different occasions. The women when attending church cover their hair with these shawls by folding the top on their shoulders and make the symbol the cross, which is known as (meskelya) with the shiny threads appearing at the edge. The shawl is worn over the head with the glistening threads at the bottom and this is displayed when they are attending funerals.

A woman usually covers her head with a shash that is tied at the neck. White fabric which is gauze like in texture named shama and kuta are often used, this is mostly used by Christian and Muslim women. A sash is worn every day by the elderly women but others only wear it when attending church.

The Different Ways To Wear Ethiopian Cloth

The cotton produced in Ethiopia is one of the best in the world; they also manufacture demins and twills. It is called netela and is worn by all the women in the country. This material is worn over the head or shoulder and is made of very thin cotton and delicate, with gauze like texture. It is quite big and has only two layers, and measures approximately 62 inches long by 102 inches wide. It is white in color with a colorful border called a tibeb between 1 to 2 inches at each end with two variations, one has only one color and the other can have many colors and outline. It is possible to wear an Ethiopian cloth in different ways.

For general wear, the netela cover-up is worn on shoulders and back and the border is folded up over the right shoulder. For church the two layers of the materials are thrown over both shoulders. When the border is worn around the shoulders or face then it is a sign of mourning, but for leisure or resting the border goes over the left shoulder.

When researching Ethiopian fashion you will discover that there are other textiles similar to the netela. There is one called fota that is much more multi-colored with a dimension of 58 x105 inches. It has a checkerboard design and does not weigh much, so it is thrown over the shoulders or over the head as a simple shawl. There is also another kind of textile which is a long sash made of cotton with color edges and this can measure up to 26 feet long. There are century old looms which are used by designers to make hand woven designs from the material. In the Highlands of Ethiopia there is a group of weavers who produce clothing using this technique. Weaving is customary a man’s job and is extremely rewarding; the weavers sell their material to the local market and also to stores in the big cities.

They also produce a material which ‘crinkles’ and gains this crumpled effect when washed. This is a popular fabric which is used to make the traditional dress. The customary manner of designing dresses from this Ethiopian cloth is to hinder it from increasing the size of a woman’s body. This creates dresses that are elegant, flowing and comfy. They also have the hand woven titlet or jacquard fabric. This delicate material is customarily used as the colorful decoration on white cotton dresses and is used to create a wide assortment of outfits as well as tank top and evening wear.

All in all, one can create many designs from Ethiopian cloth, regardless of their size. It is also possible to find beautiful creations in summersale, wax, bazin and lace.

Ethiopian Clothes – Fashion For Men And Women

Ethiopian clothes are made of the combine colors of red, gold and green which represent the colors of the stripes of the Ethiopian flag which reminds them of where they are and where they are coming from. Believe it or not, clothing is actually an expression of who we are. Some people living overseas wear their ethnic styles in dynamic and versatile ways to tell others who they are and what they are about. They have a rich and diverse history.

Clothing from different parts of the country is an indication of its region and multiplicity. It can be very overwhelming if you are trying to understand the different styles and what each style represents.

The Ethiopian coffee dress is the time-honored attire and this is called habesha qemis. These particular dresses will fall at the ankle and is normally worn by the women in the African Diaspora of the Rastafarian faith it is made of cotton material and is white in color. The traditional dress is not worn by everyone in the country but mostly people in the countryside. The modern styles are said to be cool and very fashionable, although made with the same materials and designs. It has been said that the Ethiopian clothes are generally stunning and look astonishingly beautiful.

The men wear Dashikis which are multi-colored distinctive garment-like tunics that cover the upper part of the body. Therefore, it’s not strange to see men wearing dashikis when attending official and relaxed occasions and for different ceremonies. The dashikis are also worn by followers of indigenous African traditional as well as Christians and Muslims. These are usually paired with identical drawstring trousers. The dashikis are also worn to wedding ceremonies sometime even by the bridegroom.

The grand boubou is another type of dashiki and this is generally worn with matching pants and a long robe that covers the outfit. This style is commonly worn by Muslims and by many other Africans. Dashikis are becoming a very popular fashion in western countries.

They also have the unisex Ethiopian cross dashiki. Made in a gorgeous cream color and accented on the front with an Ethiopian cross, these dashikis are elegant and classy. These clothing can be versatile as there are many unisex options that are available. Many of them can be worn by men and women on any occasion depending on tastes.

The fabric itself is resilient and holds color well, so it’s easy to wash and wear these classy outfits. These Ethiopian clothes come in an assortment of colors and designs ranging from the simple to the sophisticated. One can even match outfits with one’s spouse for an even greater effect.

Discover Who Wears Ethiopian Attire

Most people in the fashion industry classify Ethiopian attire as diverse in nature, as it is common to find a variety of designs for both man and woman. You can find dresses made of white cotton material, which is generally worn at the ankle and is a popular style with the ladies. The people in the towns and cities are mostly seen in the modern styles, but even though the clothing is made with traditional cloth they seem trendy and extremely tasteful.

Dashikis are worn by the men of the region and are generally made from distinctive materials with colorful designs. When you are in this country it is highly likely that you will see most of the males with this type of clothing on their upper body. These clothing can be versatile as there are many unisex options that are available, as a result this popular Ethiopian attire is worn for many official and casual ceremonies. A variety of natural dyes such as carrot, tea, coffee and avocado are used on these clothing.

The material in itself is resilient and holds dye well, so it’s easy to wash and wear these stylish outfits. As of such, you can find an array of colors and designs ranging from the plain to the sophisticated to suit everyone’s fashion style.

Another type of clothing that is popular in this country is the traditional suit that is worn by men when attending formal functions. This Ethiopian suit is designed in knee-length, long sleeve and coordinating pants. It is typical for this suit to be made from chiffon material, which is also regarded as rayon or sheer silk cloth. The majority of the shirts are designed with a Nehru, band or Mandarin collar, plus a kuta or netelaa shawl is draped across the suit. Most people get to see these suits upfront during the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics in 2008, as the team from Ethiopian marched in their white suits.

While this kind of clothing is somewhat similar to the dashiki, the males generally wear their dashikis to casual events. Perhaps, the most noticeable difference between these attires is that the suit is made with a collar. It would not be incorrect to say that dashikis have a similar style to the ones worn by the West African males. But, the Ethiopian design is generally off-white, natural or pure white cotton, plus the front section is adorned with native patterns and themes.

Throughout the Caribbean Islands and certain areas in America, you can find persons such as Rastafarian wearing the suit from this country. This kind of Ethiopian attire is worn by most people when they are attending church services, weddings and various other special events.