Woven in Addis. Tailored for wherever home is now.
Wude Design began with one problem every family in the diaspora knows: a wedding or Meskel is three weeks away, and the kemis you want is a phone call, a relative's suitcase and a guess about your size away. We built a studio — and a network of trusted designers — so that a hand-woven, made-to-measure habesha piece is as easy to order as anything else, and arrives on time.
Why ውዴ
ውዴ (wu-dé) is Amharic for 'my darling' — the word a mother says at the door, a husband across the coffee tray, an aunt on a wedding envelope. Nobody says it to a stranger. We chose it because nothing we make is bought for nobody: every kemis comes with a name, every gift is going home to someone. Made to measure is the craft; ውዴ is the reason. It is also what we call you — on the label inside your neckline, on the card in your parcel, and in every note from the studio.
The house label
Wude Studio pieces are woven on hand looms in Addis Ababa from Ethiopian cotton — the shemma is spun, dyed and woven by families we have worked with for years — then cut and finished by our tailors in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, so fittings, alterations and questions happen in your time zone.
Partner designers
Alongside our own label we host a small, curated group of independent designers and tailors in Addis Ababa, Asmara, Toronto and London. Each one is verified in person, sets their own prices and lead times, and talks to you directly through the app. Wude Design handles payment, measurements, shipping and the guarantee.
What made-to-measure means here
Every kemis, kamis and kaba is cut to your measurements — never to a size chart. You send your numbers (or book a five-minute video fitting), your designer confirms them before the first cut, and you receive photos at the quality-check stage before it ships. If it doesn't fit, we alter it or remake it.
What we stand for
Hand-woven, not printed
Real tibeb is woven into the cloth on a loom. We don't sell printed imitations.
Makers are paid fairly
Weavers and tailors are paid per piece at rates they set, and partner designers keep 85% of every sale.
On time for the occasion
Tell us the date. If we can't make it, we say so before you pay — and rush orders are available.
The designers
All designers →
