Muya Ethiopia
Muya Ethiopia is a handwoven textile and fashion accessories brand founded in Addis Ababa in 2005 by designer Sara Abera. It makes scarves, shawls, homeware and pottery using traditional Ethiopian weaving.
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sara Abera |
| Base | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Workforce | Around 120 artisans |
| Website | muyaethiopia.com |
What is Muya Ethiopia?
Muya Ethiopia is a textile brand from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, founded in 2005 by fashion designer Sara Abera. It operates as Muya Ethiopia PLC and has a sales centre in Addis Ababa.
Products and positioning
The brand draws on Ethiopia's textile heritage, with many designs inspired by the country's ethnic traditions.
- Handwoven scarves, shawls and throws
- Fashion accessories and a children's collection
- Cushion covers and table runners
- Pottery
Production
All goods are made on the premises. Raw cotton is cleaned and softened by hand, spun into yarn and woven into patterns on looms by a workforce of around 120 local artisans, many of whom learned their crafts from earlier generations of their families.
Distribution
Muya's textiles have been sold in Barneys and other designer stores internationally, while its pottery has been exported to the Netherlands and other countries.
Why it matters
Muya is an example of an African brand building export demand for craft textiles while keeping the full production chain, from raw cotton to finished cloth, in local artisan hands.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Muya Ethiopia?
Muya Ethiopia was founded in 2005 by Ethiopian fashion designer Sara Abera.
What does Muya Ethiopia make?
It makes handwoven scarves, shawls, throws, homeware and pottery in Addis Ababa.