Georgie was living in Ethiopia with her husband and 2 small boys for 2 years. She was inspired by the rich culture, vibrant colours and century old techniques there, so she decided to look into working with some of the very talented local artisans. Through meeting various people along the way, she came across groups training and working with people from some of the poorest areas in and around Adidis Ababa and founded Arambha, which sells ethically made clothes, shoes and accessories.
The groups Georgie works with provide sustainable jobs and lifestyle for all their employees – they are housed, fed and their children are educated. They also pay a fair wage which is very rare in Ethiopia. Along side all of this, all the materials used for her Arambha collection are locally sourced, handmade using traditional techniques and equipment and where possible, recycled.
Not only are the children’s moccasins amazing, Georgie also has a fab collection of things for women too. I adore the women’s moccasins – uber cool and very comfy.
There is a great selection of colourful accessories including scarves and ponchos and the little girls skirts are so sweet! Below is one of my favourite scarves and a beautiful necklace that comes with a touching story.
Take a look at all the gorgeous things at Arambha whilst knowing that anything you buy supports women and families in Ethiopia. Who needs more of an excuse to shop than that?
Georgie’s Favourite’s
Shop: Merkato in Addis Ababa – largest open air market in Africa
Website: Barnaby Gates – beautiful wallpaper and fabric, especially their Star designs
Restaurant: Soushi in Cirencester
Hotel: Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge in Nepal
Holiday Destination: The Luberon Valley in Provence