Ethiopian Fashion Label Kunjina Uses Fabrics To Express Art and Encourage Sustainable Clothing.

Kunjina Tesfaye; Founder and CEO of KUNJINA

KUNJINA is a distinct ready-to-wear clothing brand founded by Kunjina Tesfaye in 2017 while she was a university student at Addis Ababa University studying construction technology and management. Interestingly, the brand mainly caters to women within the age range of 25-40. KUNJINA is inspired by concepts that arise from the designer's personal experience; a true feeling that expresses authenticity. The uniqueness of the brand comes from the crafted details and elements used on the garments to narrate the inspiration of each collection.

Each year, KUNJINA produces one main collection that takes at least six months to develop and one other ready-to-wear collection that is more commercial. However, the brand uses mainly locally produced fabrics to create cutting edge pieces that make a statement and work with local weavers from different parts of the country to source beautiful 100% hand-woven cotton fabrics.

With the Ethiopian fashion industry in mind, KUNJINA firmly believes in working together with like-minded individuals to introduce a new viewpoint to the fashion industry. The brand firmly believes in fostering local employment opportunities and giving back to the community in order to support the local economy.

The uniqueness of KUNJINA spells out in its awareness on the effects the fashion industry has on the environment and the people who work in it because the brand is a member of the Ethiopia Fashion Revolution team. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of the materials being used, as well as issues like worker compensation and textile waste management.

KUNJINA is not a trend-driven or season-driven brand. As a result, the brand works independently to produce classic pieces that tell a tale when developing its collection. However, KUNJINA is passionate about educating its clients and up-and-coming local designers about the impact of the fashion industry and the potential for change by emphasizing transparency and accountability throughout the value chain.