Demii Design, an Ethiopian clothing design and manufacturing business creating beautiful, high quality cotton garments

Mekdes Mesfin's story begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she was born and raised. Today, she stands as the founder and ceo of Demii Design, a clothing line that represents a significant chapter on her entrepreneurial journey, which also includes her involvement in two other ventures within the fashion sector. While her academic background is rooted in civil engineering and business management, disciplines she pursued at university, Ms. Mesfin's professional path diverged from the conventional corporate trajectory those degrees might suggest. She launched the business during the Covid pandemic in 2019.

Lioness Weekender spoke to the creative Mekdes Mesfin to learn more about her passion for Ethiopian cotton fabric, her commitment to environmental sustainability, and her vision for the future of the business.

What does your company do?

We design and manufacture Ethiopian handwoven cotton fabrics and transform them into a beautiful pieces of clothes.

What inspired you to start your company?

The genesis of my entrepreneurial endeavors was far from a deliberate business launch. Initially, the creation of value was driven purely by passion, without the intention of commercialization or profit generation. My formative years were spent observing my mother's remarkable ability to transform discarded garments into new designs using only thread and needle. Her unwavering consistency and perseverance in this process were deeply inspiring, showcasing the power of resourcefulness. Following in her footsteps, albeit guided by the foundational techniques she learned from her tailor father, I naturally gravitated towards clothing and fabrics. Post-graduation, I pursued fashion design studies, and despite the interruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, I continued to learn independently and began creating garments using a home sewing machine. The organic demand from friends and family for custom tops and skirts gradually, and unexpectedly, evolved into a viable business.

What makes your business, service or product special?

We use Ethiopian handwoven cotton garments and manufacture them into high quality pieces of clothing. This tells a story of how our garments are made, harnessing a very environmental sustainability-conscious mindset, starting from the farmers to the weavers and now to us.

Tell us a little about your team

The interesting thing about my team is that we are a family. Seble leads our production, and we have been friends and partners for more than 4 years. She is good with patterns and quality control. We have two tailors who do all the sewing to a high quality. We also have one more person, Goyitom, who is responsible for the logistics department. He purchases the raw material and accessories needed for the production, he delivers and takes care of our overall delivery system.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

My entrepreneurial journey is a funny one. I wasn't thinking about business and making money when I was starting up. It was all fueled by passion. I did not know a single thing about financial statements, profit margins, or leading an entire team. Even though my dad owns multiple businesses, he divorced my mom when I was months old. I used to go to his house (with his new family) and would get so inspired by him and his mindset—how he is a problem solver and how he knows what people at that specific moment would pay for. Though he never showed me a thing because I was not bold enough to ask about any of it, I guess I subconsciously wanted to do what he was doing. It has now been a solid five years of my entrepreneurship journey, and it's always ups and downs. It's always full of surprises.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

My future plans would be to gain international recognition and work on different cultures and inspirations. I want DEMII to inspire the young generation to live in freedom of expressing themselves responsibly. I aspire to build a community that is conscious of who they are and what they are doing.

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

What gives me the most satisfaction is seeing people wear my designs and feeling the comfort and freedom they deserve! From the very beginning with my very first customer, the joy came when I saw her wear the top that I had made. Despite the long hours of cutting and sewing, the exhaustion and tiredness left my body when I saw her wear it and be happy about it. The other blessed thing about being an entrepreneur is having a team with a similar vision and watching us work towards the same goal.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

Be bold and courageous at all times - not when things are smooth, and all rainbows and sunshine, but in times of storm and darkness. You will get there if you are consistent in taking your dreams to reality.

To find out more about Demii Design, contact Mekdes Mesfina via email mekdes.mesfina@gmail.com or visit the company’s website and social media platforms:

Website: http://www.demiidesign.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesignedByDemii

Instagram: https://instagram.com/_demii_?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==