Our Story
"Embrace your heritage, tell your story, and don't be afraid to break the rules"
- Beza Mengistu, Founder & Creative Director
More Than Fashion: A Movement for Change
Zeraf is not just a fashion brand. It's a powerful Ethiopian word that embodies resilience, triumph, and winning—capturing the essence of our journey and the strength we aim to inspire in every individual who wears our designs.
For our founder, Beza Mengistu, creativity is much more than an aesthetic value: it's "a way to rewrite the narrative of women in Africa," to restore voice, dignity, and power to those who have been silenced for too long.
"Creativity is a way to tell our stories, to reclaim our narratives. We're not simply making clothes; we're building a future where women are respected and in control of their own destiny."
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The Founder's Journey
Growing up in a community-centered environment, Beza Mengistu learned to see daily challenges as opportunities to build a new vision of African fashion. After training in marketing, she founded Zeraf—a brand that weaves together contemporary elegance, local craftsmanship, and a precise social mission.
Her collections are textile narratives, born from collaboration with local artisans—women who, through creative work, gain autonomy and recognition. Mengistu designs clothes, but above all, she creates pathways to emancipation.
"The biggest challenge with Zeraf has been navigating between tradition and modernity," she explains. "We have incredible cultural wealth, but also very rigid social expectations about what a woman should or shouldn't do."
Our Mission
Empower Women
Teaching skills, offering access to fair markets, and celebrating the art of Ethiopian women. Creating spaces where their voices can be heard, their talents shine, and their contributions recognized.
Sustainable Practice
Committed to ethical production and sustainable materials, ensuring our fashion leaves a positive impact on both people and the planet. Every piece is crafted with care for our environment.
Cultural Heritage
Bridging ancient knowledge with future technologies. Our work is a bridge between traditional wisdom and contemporary innovation, celebrating Ethiopian craftsmanship on the global stage.
Our Impact
Behind these numbers are stories of women and young people who have found in design and manufacturing an opportunity for redemption and self-affirmation.
International Recognition
CODEWAY 25 - Rome, Italy
Zeraf was showcased at CODEWAY 25, the international cooperation and sustainable development fair organized by Fiera Roma. The project was featured in a groundbreaking panel titled "Italian Cooperation for Ethical Fashion Development: Sustainable Partnerships for Africa-Italy Relations."
The event, moderated by Elisa Pervinca Bellini (Senior Fashion News & Sustainability Editor of Vogue Italia), brought together key figures in fashion and international cooperation, demonstrating that fashion can and must become a tool for social change.
Partnership with AICS & UNIDO
Zeraf is part of a transformative initiative supported by AICS (Italian Agency for Development Cooperation) and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization). This partnership focuses on developing artisanal and manufacturing hubs in Addis Ababa, the beating heart of Ethiopian creativity.
A Message to Young African Women
"Embrace your heritage, tell your story, and don't be afraid to break the rules."
For Beza, true strength lies in identity: "Your unique perspective is your superpower," a gift that must be cultivated with passion, education, and self-confidence.
"Don't let anyone tell you that your dreams are too big or unrealizable. Find your passion, perfect your skills, and build a support network. True success is creating a legacy, empowering others, and leaving the world better than you found it."
In a continent where fashion can change lives, Beza represents living proof that "beauty can and must coincide with the dignity of work and respect for culture."
The Creative Hub of Addis Ababa
At the heart of Ethiopian creativity, new artisanal and manufacturing hubs are developing, including EIFCCOS (Ethiopian Industrial Inputs and Commodities Control and Service), LOMI (Leather Organization for Manufacturing and Innovation), and urban clusters in Merkato and Kirkos.
These aren't just centers of industrial development, but represent a new way of thinking about fashion craftsmanship as a lever for inclusive growth. The Creative Hub exemplifies how "innovation, craftsmanship, and youth entrepreneurship merge in a place of vision."
This is where tradition meets innovation, where ancient wisdom combines with cutting-edge technology, and where Ethiopian women are redefining the future of African fashion.
Our Vision
"To demonstrate that a woman can be rooted in traditions while simultaneously being an innovative entrepreneur is a political and cultural act."
Every individual achievement becomes a collective good. We challenge prejudices and affirm that women's contributions are essential for a healthy economy and a vibrant society. Our work is a concrete example: a bridge between ancient knowledge and future technologies.
Fashion speaks of identity and freedom, made of fabrics and dreams.
Explore Our CollectionIn The Press
"Beza Mengistu di Zeraf spiega: Abbraccia la tua eredità, racconta la tua storia e non aver paura di infrangere le regole"
By Sennait Ghebreab - Vogue Italia highlights how Zeraf is redefining the future of African fashion through the synergy between Italian cooperation and Ethiopian creativity.
Read Full ArticleJoin Our Movement
Every purchase supports Ethiopian women artisans and helps build a more equitable and sustainable fashion industry.