Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

June 13, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"For people to be innovative... they don't have to really travel a long way or copy somebody's business idea. It's right there."

- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is founder and Managing Director of soleRebels, the world's fastest-growing African footwear brand and the only Fair Trade-certified footwear company in the world. Growing up in a poor suburb of Addis Ababa, Bethlehem decided that there was only one way to defeat poverty – use local craftsmanship to make products that can compete in the global marketplace. She decided on footwear and today 70,000 pairs of shoes leave her factory every year. soleRebels has been expanding rapidly and today exports to no fewer than 45 countries and is targeting 50 stand alone soleRebels retail stores across the United States by 2018 and 500 worldwide by 2022.

100 LIONESSES: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu's green shoe brand helps Ethiopia walk tall on global stage

June 10, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"It is not footwear we are producing - it's a kind of art," explained Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, who founded soleRebels in 2005 in the neighbourhood where she grew up, after realising skilled residents lacked job opportunities.

Quote of the Day by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu

April 21, 2016 Melanie Hawken

"Africa needs far fewer charity brands and much more of its own powerful brands whose global equity it can leverage for its own good. Most importantly in the creation of the prosperity that comes from well-paid, sustainable jobs. Good jobs mean people can afford to finance their own solutions and not wait for a handout to do so."

- Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is founder and Managing Director of soleRebels, the world's fastest-growing African footwear brand and the only Fair Trade-certified footwear company in the world. Growing up in a poor suburb of Addis Ababa, Bethlehem decided that there was only one way to defeat poverty – use local craftsmanship to make products that can compete in the global marketplace. She decided on footwear and today 70,000 pairs of shoes leave her factory every year. soleRebels has been expanding rapidly and today exports to no fewer than 45 countries and is targeting 50 stand alone soleRebels retail stores across the United States by 2018 and 500 worldwide by 2022.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu - Bringing Ethiopian entrepreneurship to the world

October 18, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder of soleRebels (Ethiopia) — **Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu**, founder of soleRebels (Ethiopia)

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is a tireless foot soldier taking Ethiopian entrepreneurship to the world. She is building a $20-million shoe factory in Addis Ababa and is also soon launching a coffee brand.

International Women's Day: Interview with Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu who has created one of the world’s fastest growing footwear brands by betting on decent work

March 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, founder of soleRebels & Republic of Leather, Ethiopia — **Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu**, founder of soleRebels & Republic of Leather, Ethiopia

As part of International Women's Day celebrations ILO News spoke to Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, a young Ethiopian entrepreneur who has created one of the world’s fastest growing footwear brands by betting on decent work.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu's passion for leather sees her launch a new venture - Republic of Leather

February 6, 2015 Melanie Hawken

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Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is a woman passionate about leather, especially when its handcrafted by talented artisan craftsmen and women in her home country, Ethiopia. So much so, that Bethlehem, who has achieved great success with her global shoe brand soleRebels, has in 2015 launched a new business, Republic of Leather, which creates bespoke, handcrafted luxury leatherwear for men and women. Given Bethlehem's track record of success as a leading woman entrepreneur we are sure her new venture is headed for great things.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu: For entrepreneurs to flourish there needs to be a clear and enforceable regime of intellectual property protection

December 9, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: AllAfrica.com | by Tsadenna Gebru | December 7, 2014

When Bethelhem Tilahun, co-founder of global brand soleRebels, spoke at a recent entrepreneurship conference she highlighted the challenges entrepreneurs face when protecting their intellectual property in Africa.

Read the article here.

Africa's Top 100 Young Business Leaders List Features 7 Women Entrepreneurs

November 5, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This month, the Choiseul Institute of France has just published its inaugural list of Africa’s 100 Most Promising Young Business Leaders Under the Age of 40, and making the rankings are seven women entrepreneurs, our Lionesses of Africa.

Fastest Growing African Shoe-Brand 'SoleRebels' Launches Flagship Store In Silicon Valley

October 26, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: Forbes | September 16, 2014

Named one of the 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2011 by FORBES, celebrated Ethiopian entrepreneur, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu launched her first US offering at the beginning of this month; a flagship store of her eco-friendly shoe brand, SoleRebels, in Silicon Valley, California.

Video: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu featured on ENCA

May 28, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: ENCA

Ethiopian entrepreneur, Bethlehem Alemu, has become one of Africa's most renowned shoe designers, with her SoleRebel brand of shoes made from recycled car tyres. Here she is featured on the South African news channel ENCA.

Video: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu featured on BBC's 'The Ideas Exchange'

May 28, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: BBC The Ideas Exchange

The Ideas Exchange is a series from the BBC exploring the minds shaping global business. It pairs up business leaders from around the world to discuss today's business landscape and their secrets to success. In this edition, Ethiopian entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu the founder and managing director of SoleRebels, which makes shoes out of recycled materials meets up with Jorgen Vig Knudstorp the CEO of Danish toymaker and major international brand, Lego. They discuss today's business landscape and their secrets to success.

Entrepreneur Advice from Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu: Africa must build global brands

May 20, 2014 Melanie Hawken

soleRebel's international brand success is exemplified by their trendy store in Tawain

African entrepreneurs must build global brands....

“soleRebels is based on the revolutionary idea that to truly enjoy lasting development, developing nation producers MUST create, grow and control successful global brands and the equity developed in them, the very same formula that global brands in developed nations have so successfully deployed to build themselves and their countries...”

Entrepreneur Advice from Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu: Innovate and create world class products

May 20, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Innovate and create world class products....

“soleRebels is LIVING PROOF that creating innovative world class products and trading them with the world is THE BEST road to greater shared prosperity for developing nations like ours!”

Video: VOA showcases Ethiopian entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu and her flair for shoes

May 19, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Source: Voice of America

Featured in the United States as part of the Black History Month series, VOA's Diane Butts showcases Ethiopian entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu and her flair for shoes.

Video: Watch Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu interviewed at The One Young World Summit 2013 in Johannesburg

May 19, 2014 Melanie Hawken

soulRebels founder, Bethlehem Alemu and YouGovStone founder, Carole Stone give advice and take questions on how to be an entrepreneur in this Special Session at the One Young World Summit 2013. The One Young World Summit 2013 took place in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Video: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu featured on BBC

May 19, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Watch this video where BBC's George Alagiah features prominent Ethiopian entrepreneur Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu.

Video: Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu honoured at the 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship

May 19, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This feature was played at the Gala Night for the 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship, held in Nairobi. The Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship are sponsored by Legatum, the Omidyar Network, and Google, and this year's awards were selected by an elite group of judges, including Virgin Founder, Sir Richard Branson.