Boots in Ethiopia

Ethiopian fashion designers make shoes from old car tires Ethiopian fashion designers conquer the world catwalks with shoes made from old car tires. The small Ethiopian firm at first took advantage of the long-standing habit of fellow countrymen to put into operation any things that had served their time, and also created new jobs. In the second most populous country in Africa, but impoverished due to constant droughts, it is customary to value and use any junk. In addition, the rebels who overthrew the dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam 20 years ago were also shod in sandals made from a piece of an old tire tied from above with a piece of rope. However, shoes of this "design" are common in many African countries. “We couldn't afford anything better back then,” says Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, 31, who started a five-person shoe company seven years ago. True, she nevertheless refined and developed an idea that took possession of the masses, "refreshed" it. Now an enterprising woman heads a whole network of industries, whose products are sold not only in Ethiopia itself, but also in  Boots in Ethiopia New York and London. The SoulRebels brand has become popular, 300 people are already making designer shoes. Alemu does not shy away from hiring socially excluded people: for example, she employs 55 people who have had leprosy and have lost their fingers. “At the same time, they are skilled craftsmen, they make shoes exclusively by hand, and our factory has absolutely no greenhouse gas emissions,” Alemu is proud. Nowadays the product range includes not only sandals and slippers, but also shoes, high lace-up boots. A proven tread is used as a sole, and jute, leather, cotton are sewn on top. True, the price jumped to 450-800 birr (26-46 dollars). Now these shoes are not affordable for most Ethiopians, but they are successfully sold in 33 countries around the world. 90 percent of the production is exported. Alemu has many international awards for product quality and original design. Brand stores are expected to open in the coming months in Canada, Japan, Spain and Taiwan. Bags are added to the boots, the secret of success is the same: the base is made of an old tire, and the top is made of natural material, ITAR-TASS reports. When you subscribe, you will receive weekly news and articles about the shoe business by e-mail. Shoes Report is a publication on how to run a shoe business in Russia. Use of site materials is allowed only if there is a direct link to the site www.shoes-report.ru © 2003 - https://jiji.com.et/55-boots