Liya Kebede is a woman of varied talents: model, designer, maternal health advocate, and philanthropist. She is a woman on a mission, using fashion and design to share her message about empowerment and the preservation of art and culture.


Her work doesn't end there though. In 2005, Kebede was appointed World Health Organization (WHO) Goodwill Ambassador for maternal, newborn, and child health. She also founded the Liya Kebede Foundation, which aims to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality in Africa through advocacy projects, community based organizations, and medical training programs (source: Wikipedia). She was even named Time Magazine's "100 Mosst Influential People" in 2010.

Kebede founded her clothing line Lemlem in 2007. Lemlem in Amharic, a native Ethiopian language, means "to bloom or flourish". Kebede's designs feature handwoven and embroided clothing made from natural cotton. She partners with local Ethiopian artisans to preserve the art of Ethiopian handweaving, which is "world reknowned for its intricacy and luxirious texture" (source: Lemlem). The brand not only offers work opportunities to traditionally skilled handweavers, it also honors and protects this cultural artform and adds a sense of diversity to the clothing market.

With her boundless talent and ambition, Liya Kebede uses fashion to give voice to a greater cause. Her personal style showcases the tradition and culture of her native roots, and expresses a sense of empowerment. As you continue on your style journey, keep this in mind: "If nothing else, I want women to understand that they are powerful...We have more ability to make changes in the world than we can imagine if we have the courage to try."