Ethiopia's Weavers Struggle To Keep Garment Tradition Alive

'What we produce with so much effort can now be made instantly by machines,' says Getu Derza, who began crafting habesha kemis dresses when he was 14 (Credit: AFP)

Behind the looms of a workshop in the heart of Addis Ababa, dozens of weavers deftly repeat the same motions to craft traditional dresses -- a centuries-old skill now threatened by Ethiopia's economic hardships.

For generations, the "habesha kemis" -- long white cotton dresses often adorned with colourful embroidery -- have been handwoven. Their elaborate designs serve as attire for festivities and religious ceremonies.