Habesha kemis

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Habesha kemis is the traditional dress worn by Habesha women in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is ankle-length, worn at formal events and holidays, and comes in many regional styles. It features detailed embroidery on the hems, is made of cotton, and usually comes in white, grey, or beige. Many women also wear a shawl called a netela with it. The Habesha kemis influenced the design of the dashiki, which for Vlisco was created by Dutch designer Toon van de Mannaker from a wax-print pattern inspired by silk-embroidered Ethiopian noblewomen’s tunics from the 19th century.