Ethiopian entrepreneur promotes cultural cloth with unique baby blankets and accessories.

Record ID: 81590

  • Title: Ethiopian entrepreneur promotes cultural cloth with unique baby blankets and accessories.
  • Date: 21st October 2016
  • Summary: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LITTLE GABIES FOUNDER, AMELSA YAZEW INSPECTING BLANKETS MADE BY HER TEAM HORSE EMBROIDERED ON BLANKET VARIOUS OF GABI PRODUCTS PACKED BLANKETS ROLLED UP BLANKETS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER, LITTLE GABIES, AMELSA YAZEW SAYING: "A little gabi is basically a little blanket made from cotton. It is handmade that goes through seven different people from beginning to end. We pick the cotton first, and then it goes to the spinners and they spin it, and then it goes to the weaver, people that sew and then to the finishing department. So it's basically a blanket, a handmade blanket made from 100 percent cotton for kids."
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2016 11:44
  • Keywords: Gabi Blanket Litte Gabies Cotton Baby Blanket Cloth Fabric Entrepreneur
  • Location: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
  • City: ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
  • Country: Ethiopia
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Fashion
  • Reuters ID: LVA00154Y6XCN
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: After a morning meeting with her staff, Amelsa Yazew inspects finished baby blankets made at her company offices in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.
    The entrepreneur runs a brand known as Little Gabies, which produces children's blankets, all handmade from the country's traditional Gabi cloth.
    Little Gabies was started in 2013 after Amelsa had her first child and after struggling to find suitable baby blankets that would not irritate her baby's sensitive skin, she decided that she would one day meet the gap for soft comfortable baby blankets.
    Little Gabies sells the blankets, clothes and a variety of baby accessories at their store in Addis.
    The blankets come in over 20 embroidery designs, done in various colours.
    "A little gabi is basically a little blanket made from cotton. It is handmade that goes through seven different people from beginning to end. We pick the cotton first, and then it goes to the spinners and they spin it, and then it goes to the weaver, people that sew and then to the finishing department. So it's basically a blanket, a handmade blanket made from 100 percent cotton for kids," said Yazew.
    The Gabi cloth which is generally done in white is widely worn in Ethiopia and Eritrea. They often have bands of various colours and also come in various textures.
    The traditional dress is also often worn at various ceremonies and is considered to be an integral part of the country's culture.
    The Gabi can be used as a scarf or made into outfits.
    Amelsa uses organic cotton for her products. Spinning the cotton is a major part of the process; cotton is turned into thread through this method that has been used by spinners for centuries.
    Amelsa says she ensures her business manufactures handmade products from start to finish with very little help from machines, this way she gets to preserve their uniqueness.
    The business employs 30 people from spinners to weavers.
    "We contribute 50 birr (2.2 USD) a week to a money saving scheme from the pay we get from here. The rest we use for our expenses. We pay rent and buy stuff for the children. I have one child," said Tadelech Tesfaye, a spinner.
    The thread later ends up at this workshop, where skilled weavers turn it into cloth.
    The weavers pass shuttles of thread through yarn held in place by looms.
    Making a single gabi takes two days. Amelsa says her business is growing fast and she hardly meets demand for her products, which are also sold in high end baby boutiques in Norway and the United States.
    "In all honesty it has taken us by surprise. The demand is really high and people appreciate Ethiopian products to the point where it has affected our export market," she said.
    Little Gabies products sell for between 20 and 150 U.S. dollars.
    "What is unique about this is that we have never seen a product like this before. Up to now we use factory made fabrics imported from abroad. These are 100% cotton and hand made through traditional weaving techniques. We don't usually see them made in the form of baby blankets and shoes," said Ruth Girmay, a customer.
    The Gabi has been preserved an important part of Ethiopian culture for decades and is now being adopted by businesses for a modern market at home and abroad as it continues to provide jobs for millions across the country.
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