YEMA, inspired by East African lineage and Bay Area’s urban street wear, is a high end clothing brand located in Tiburon, CA. The brand weaves history, culture, tradition and diversity with high-quality garments. Hawi and Yema take great pride in their heritage and aim to tell a story of the two countries with every design. As they expanded their clothing brand they began to focus on providing high end fashion and bold expressive looks. With Ethiopian Fidel and art, Kenyan colors and patterns the two designers strategically created their clothing to entice curiosity and appease the fashionista in their customers.

Yema Khalif, from Kibera slums (the largest slum in Africa) and co-founder/partner, Hawi Awash, a refugee from Ethiopia, met while attending university in California. Plucked from humble roots, their motivation is derived from their desire to bring quality head turning fashion infused with an ethical business practice that inspires others to profit on their creativity through education. YEMA tells their story through the symbolism and logo of the company. The authentic giraffe logo used for YEMA highlights the importance of love as the primary business drive. Giraffes are known to have enormously large hearts sitting at 2 ft long and can get as heavy as 25 lbs and that large amount of love is what YEMA is all about. Love for their roots, journey, and community is what keeps the young entrepreneurs creating high end, unique, and meaningful clothing.

With 20% of each sale going to educating children in their native countries and fashion that satisfies their customers the young tycoons are well on their way to affirming their position in the competitive fashion industry.