This design is inspired by the magic that happens when people gather over coffee. We reimagined the beautifully adorned hand as a cross between a traditional Ethiopian tattoo and intricate henna designs.

The famed Ethiopian coffee ritual is an experience for all the senses. Conversation flowing, the aroma and sound of the roasting beans, the wafting of burning incense, passing tiny cups full of the precious liquid while being careful not to spill any of it, and that first sip that erases all fatigue and worries. This ritual is a visceral experience. It offers a window to slow down and find sweetness in everyday life and magic in familiar moments.

A simple invitation of 'buna enteta' (let's have coffee), can mean a candid conversation over a humble cup of coffee or a big feast complete with music and dancing. Rituals can last for hours as the buna is roasted, ground, brewed, and drunk. It is an essential safe place for the young and the old to meet, where topics such as politics, community, and gossip are discussed.

This is for my nostalgia to everything Addis Ababa is to me. I am sure this will also bring back fond memories of Addis for you.

I was born in Addis Ababa.

I grew up in the unique urban culture of the city. Addis for me is more than a city, it is a vibe, a way of living. Much of Addis Ababa we grew up in is changing – the Addis I remember from the late 70s, 80’s and 90’s is so different from the present. But Addis still has kept its charm with its quaint cafes serving up the world’s best macchiato, sprawling markets where you can find anything from peppers to gold, colorful nightlife – from azmaris to the dance clubs, amazing food and so much more. For me, it is the small town feel while still being the capital.

Do you remember taking the bus from Shiro Meda where people vehicles and animals shared the same road, getting off at Legehar to buy peanuts or sugar cane from the street vendors, walking to Ambassador to catch the latest feature back when going to the cinema was more than entertainment, it was our only window to the outside world, hoping on the Lada taxi to visit your family or zipping around town in a Beetle?

Taitu Betul (c.1851–1918), wife of Menelik (King of Shoa and later Negus Negast or King of Kings), was a formidable queen and empress of Ethiopia.

She used her exceptional intelligence to strengthen and extend her power through an adroit blend of patronage, political marriages and leadership craft. Determined to resist imperialist designs on her country, she increasingly opposed any negotiations that would result in the loss of Ethiopian territory. When diplomacy gave way to war, she rode out at the head of her own army, at her husband’s side. It was she who devised the plan which led to the Ethiopian victory at Makalle, and her presence was crucial in the Ethiopian victory at Adwa in 1896, the most significant victory of any African army during the climax of European colonialism. She founded Addis Ababa, which remains Ethiopia’s capital city today, and the final decades of her reign witnessed a period of modernization, which gradually opened Ethiopia up to trade and greater technical expertise.

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