Known as Ethiopia’s “Father of Tourism“, H.E. Mr. Hapte-Selassie dedicated his professional life to promoting Ethiopia by highlighting his country’s rich history and diverse culture. Hapte-Selassie
understood that Ethiopia’s economic development necessarily entailed cultural change. As part of an effort to capture and preserve Ethiopia’s unique culture, he initiated the compiling and documenting of the clothing worn in the country’s different regions.

In this series, a selection of fourteen collectible prints titled “Ethiopian Traditional Costumes” celebrate Hapte-Selassie’s efforts to enrich our daily lives by promoting Ethiopia to its people and the world.

Ethiopia consists of some 80 ethnic groups, all with their distinct traditional costume. In the north, they predominantly wear what is commonly known as the “Habesha Libs” made of white woven cotton embroidered with crosses or traditional designs and topped with a shawl “Netella” of the same material and design. In other parts of the country, there are varying traditional clothes displaying designs and colors of the different ethnic groups/tribes. Members of some ethnic groups cover their bodies with leather, while others cover themselves by adorning their bodies with distinctive paints, tattoos, and piercings.