Brand Review: lemlem

On a recent morning whilst at the airport, I got what was labeled as a bagel with sausage and cheese to help me cope with the fact that I was there at 7 AM on a Saturday #fitspo. Lo and behold, when I unwrapped said pre-made breakfast delicacy, it was not a bagel at all. It was an overly floured roll. 

I'm just saying this because I want you to throw me a pity party (which I totally deserve by the way.) I'm sharing it because that is precisely how I feel about the weather these days. Advertised as summer but once you unwrap it, it’s something else entirely. New York is stuck in some sort of muggy nightmare full of thunderstorms, cold snaps, and confusion but not really summer. 

It's time we take matters into our own hands and create a false summer frame of mind. Today’s brand for review, lemlem, seems like just the cure to what ails us.* To put it as mildly as possible, these clothes scream summer of easy breezy awesomeness and you need to stock your closet immediately.

lemlem was founded by super model Liya Kebde. She is a native Ethiopian and was inspired to start the artisan made collection after meeting a group of local woman traditionally weaving textiles but without a market in which to sell them. She saw the potential to connect eager consumers like me with the beautiful handmade pieces these woman were making. The brand has expanded to support female artisans using traditional practices in other African communities, including Kenya, Rwanda, and Madagascar. These partnerships mean that lemlem is able to provide jobs to woman in need while also providing a thriving marketplace for traditional weaving tactics that were previously at risk of extinction. 

The partnership between a supermodel and local artisans has created a consistent collection of irresistible pieces.  The customer who wears these is both casually chic and extremely comfortable. The pieces have such a great mix of color and pattern which makes them both interesting, but also wearable for a variety of dressing styles. Plus, they look wonderful when paired together and a bit more more toned down when worn apart. If/when I quit my job and move to the beach, this is what I would be wearing every day. Because most of lemlem’s products are woven for that breezy feel, please be advised that suitable layers underneath are required to make them office/ parent/ not wearing a bathing suit appropriate.

While lemlem is available at many major retailers, if you purchase directly from their site, 5% of all purchases are donated to the lemlem foundation. The foundation is focused on providing maternal healthcare and economic empowerement to women in Africa.  While lemlem provides economic opportunities within the workshops, the lemlem foundation can provide supplemental supports outside of the workplace.  

• ONE: This top is the perfect translation of what say a man might traditionally wear in Africa to something I could totally pull off with ease and not look like an idiot. Also, do you remember that comment about pattern mixing above? Here is your proof.
• TWO: I'm having a bit of a moment with top and short sets and this one is no exception. It would would be perfect with the top above, but would also look amazing with a host of tops in my closet, as well as some swimsuits. It is hard to tell from the image above, but these shorts also feature a lovely fringe trim on the bottom.  
• THREE: One of my favorite things in the world? Multi-wear clothing. If you see me wearing a dress, you might need to ask if it’s actually a skirt. Or is my top a dress? Or maybe those pants are actually a sweater (just kidding). This skirt has amazing versatility built right in to it. Perfect as a skirt with a cute top or just as wonderful as a dress with red statement earrings. Both would definitely inspire me to kick up my heels and create a little bit of summer raucous. 
• FOUR:  This off the shoulder vision of perfection has an absolutely amazing but also super subtle surprise: a metallic silver thread throughout the whole garment. And that's how adults wear metallic.  With a few red accents throw in and some black and white zig zagging, I have been debating pressing finalize order on this puppy for months.
• FIVE: When in doubt, add a scarf. Or at least that is what I have been telling myself for 30 years. And that also explains my robust and cringe worthy collection of scarves. This one doubles as a sarong and also could look lovely draped over the shoulders like a poncho. I'm failing at coming up with a good excuse to not purchase it. (Sorry, mom.)
• SIX: In summer, I can't get enough of wearing white. Although my food dropping habits would suggest otherwise... This breezy number with sneaky tassels on the side looks like it would fit right in to my summer of white wardrobe. 

And how is lemlem doing more than just making our summer??

* Full disclosure: if you also happen to be suffering recently from diminishing funds to buy things disease, lemlem isn’t you ailment.