Program Supports Ethiopian SMEs as they Shift to Manufacturing PPE
More than 1000 workers, primarily women, avoid losing their jobs due to COVID-19
Mastercard Foundation is partnering with a consortium of 11 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ethiopia to repurpose their factories to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) in the fight against COVID-19.
The six-month Rescuing Enterprises Through Production Repurposing Program will enable the 11 SMEs to continue running their businesses and avoid having to retrench their 1,060 employees, the majority being young women. The contribution from the Mastercard Foundation will support the repurposing of factories and basic textile machines, as well as renting unused equipment to manufacture protective equipment for health care workers and masks for the general public. The SMEs within the consortium are:
Enzi Shoes
Enzi Shoes is a premium footwear brand that is part of the new narrative of African creativity, craftsmanship and enterprise. Designed, sourced, and crafted by hand in Ethiopia ENZI is at the leading edge of a new movement of urban-oriented, globally minded African designers and entrepreneurs. ENZI’s commitment to the aesthetics, comfort and positive social impact of our product has made our brand resonate with a wide-ranging audience.
Enzi Shoes is a premium footwear brand that is part of the new narrative of African creativity, craftsmanship, and enterprise. Pictured above: Azariah Mengistu
Enzi Shoes is a premium footwear brand that is part of the new narrative of African creativity, craftsmanship, and enterprise. Pictured above: Azariah Mengistu
FIF Trading PLC
FIF Trading PLC company’s mission is to train and provide women with access to well-paying jobs. It desires to see people, especially underprivileged women, trained, working and earning well. Fayda in Fashion longs to play its part contributing in people’s life while sourcing out authentically designed and well-crafted products made by well treated employees. This coupled with a desire to grow and be profitable as well.
FIF Trading PLC has a mission to train and provide underprivileged women with access to well-paying jobs through Fayda in Fashion. Pictured here: Helen Sillato
Gaber Textiles
Gaber Textiles’ company goals include expanding distribution to the international market using locally sourced fabrics. “Empowering women together” is Gaber Garment’s motto and to live up to this. The company specializes in a wide range of men, women and kids clothing such as t-shirts, polo t-shirts, sweaters, uniforms, women fashion wear and recyclable shopping bags.
Gaber Textiles aims to expand distribution to the international market using locally sourced fabrics while living up to their motto of “empowering women together”. Pictured above: Jennet Lemma
Habte Garment
The Garment established with the purpose of producing, different kids wear from age 0 to 14 years old. Habte Garment and printing engaged in local market with fair price and also Export to different countries. The vision of the Garment is to be one of the competent kids wear producer in Africa. The Company employed youths, out of the total employees, 77% of them are women.
Habte Garment produces kids wear from birth to 14 years old and 77% of the young employees are women. Pictured above: Habtesillassie Gebrekiristos
KABANA leather
Kabana is an ethical brand producing quality leather goods and export internationally. The company mission to make a positive impact through a sustainable business creating 80% employment opportunity to women. The vision is get quality Ethiopian leather bags to the world, parallel creating dignified jobs and economic empowerment for women on the value chain and contributing towards the economic prosperity of Ethiopia. Kabana practices green manufacturing and upcycling in its factory.
Kabana is an ethical brand producing quality leather goods and exports internationally while making a positive impact through a sustainable business creating 80% employment opportunities for women. Pictured above: Semhal Guesh
Kootekett leather
Kootkeet leather, owned by two Ethiopian Entrepreneurs, firmly beliefs that ending generational poverty is possible through creating a better paying job for women in our society. Based on this firm belief kootkeet leather employs 95 % its employees are women including women with disabilities. We deliver our products to the international market including USA, Europe and Japan. The company’s vision is to be a fashion company in Ethiopia, producing innovative and creative designs, which does not harm the environment and exploit its employees.
Kootekett Leather is owned by two Ethiopian entrepreneurs who believe that ending generational poverty is possible through creating a better paying job for women and 95% of its employees are women. Pictured above: Daniel Tadesse
Mafi Mafi
Mafi Mafi is an awarded winning ethical fashion brand based in Ethiopia. In 2011, it opened its flagship boutique in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. It’s high fashion and ready to wear designs and accessories have since become a reputable brand in Ethiopia known for its trademark twist on tradition and contemporary fashion. Its collection is produced out of cotton grown in Ethiopia and is hand woven by female artisans. With heritage at the fore of the fashion house, the brand is committed to keeping the production of its collection in Ethiopia, thus supporting the livelihood of female artisans. It’s fusion of artisan heritage, female empowerment and contemporary fashion has led to Mahlet (the designer and founder) garnering attention and plaudits from the global community.
Mafi is a fusion of artisan heritage, female empowerment and contemporary fashion that is committed to keeping the production of its collection in Ethiopia, thus supporting the livelihood of female artisans. Pictured above: Mahlet Afework
Meron Addis Abeba
As a strategic program, Meron Addis Ababa entered the market with a mission that integrates designing, manufacturing, and distributing; unique, sassy, fashionably sustainable, and top of the line finished leather products for the local and international markets. The company is primarily engaged in the designing, manufacturing and distributing of leather products such as bags, accessories, jackets, and shoes to both the local and International markets though the company has adapted to manufacturing PPE such as cotton and leather facemasks to meet the country’s large demand.
Picture: Meron Seid
Sadula Bussiness PLC
Under two brands LaLi and Zinar, the company works with traditional weavers by creating a safe job opportunity within their convenience by empowering and providing free trainings, by paying them a living wage to ensure that the crafting knowledge is being transmitted to the younger generations.
Sadula Business PLC, under its two brands LaLi and Zinar, empowers traditional weavers through free training so they can work safely while earning a living wage and can transfer the knowledge of their craft to younger generations. Pictured above: Lemlem Teklahimanot
The Look Interiors
With mission to create a unique and authentic design of in garment industry focused on home accessories with base of Ethiopian artisans as to make everyone feel at home wherever they are. Additionally, we also have made it our mission to show the effect of design and how it has a great impact on a person’s creativity, and furthermore on the community.
The Look Interiors focuses on creative home accessories designed and produced by Ethiopian artisans to bring creativity into people’s homes while impacting the community. Pictured above: Hana Yohanes
Yefikir
Yefikir is a creative fashion design company formed in 2009 by renowned fashion designer Fikirte Addis. Yefikir Design is established with the vision to promote to and leverage opportunities in the Ethiopian fashion and apparel market by using the home-grown design talent. Inspired by the need to build an ecosystem of businesses that are linked through the supply chain, Yefikir Design, is determined to invest its capital in areas where it can make a significance contribution in the overall socio-economic development of the country by creating a business model that drives growth from each value adding member of the fashion industry.
Yefikir is a creative fashion design company committed to promoting and leveraging opportunities in the Ethiopian fashion and apparel market by using home-grown design talent. Pictured: Fikirte Addis
