How to wear a netela: four ways, and what each one says
The netela is one piece of cloth, and how you fold it tells people where you are going and how you feel about it.
One cloth, many meanings
A netela is two layers of hand-woven cotton, roughly two metres by one, with a woven tibeb border on the short ends. It is the most worn piece of habesha clothing and the most expressive.
1. Over both shoulders, tibeb at the back
The everyday way: drape it over both shoulders with the border falling down your back. For church and visiting. Relaxed, respectful.
2. Over the head
For the service itself, and for mourning: pull the netela up over your head so the border frames your face. At a funeral or memorial the netela is worn with the border inside, plain side out.
3. The Meskel wrap
For celebrations, fold the netela lengthwise and wrap it once around the body with the tibeb showing at the front, one end thrown over the left shoulder. This is the joyful way — Meskel, Enkutatash, weddings.
4. Folded on the arm
Arriving somewhere, carry the netela folded over one forearm with the border out. It says you have come from somewhere and are staying a while.
Caring for it
Wash cold by hand, never wring, dry in shade. Fold it a different way every few months so the creases don't set. A good netela lasts twenty years.
