Comments on: Matthew Williamson inspired by traditional Ethiopian dress

By: Kae Livingston

Kae Livingston — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 01:05:06 +0000

So, everyone has different opinions, but that doesnt give us the right to trash on one another. Ethiopians have the right to stand up for their cultural clothing. This design is not any normal casual wear clothing it is a symbolic, cultural and historic item. @Stanley: you say ethiopia has a lot of small shops with ripped off clothing from all over the world. How do you know this, do you live there? If you havent realized but ive seen ripped of iteams not just clothing everywhere in america and other non-african contries too. Ethiopians can do businesses for them selves and doesnt need people like him taking ideas without any acknowlegements. And how are ethiopians negative. How would an american feel if an african country copied the same idea of a constitution and if the africans said we are just embracing this around africa. Even though the constitution has a huge impact in America. Ethiopia would love help in any kind way as of any other country would. But not in a way where their heart felt historical items are being recognized around the world as someone else’s work of art. And as of “not” having any business’ in Ethiopia that is a false statement. Ethiopia has many coffee and gold business. Also as their music industry has been recognized by shakira and some other known artists. Ethiopia is known to have very kind people living there in the city. Also, their fashion industry is doing well without any help from foreigners. My comment is mostly filled with facts and not based on opinions. This designer has hurt some ethiopians and has pleased other ethiopians. As of any other i would say there should’ve been a little more communication between this designer and the ethiopian government about these designs before they were getting presented in his collection. These designs in my opinion are beautiful, and in my opinion he should’ve gave somewhat of an acknowlegement to ethiopians so all this negativity, from everyone could be less dramatized. Everyone, anywhere who is reading this should try putting this as if it happened to them, then how would you feel. I can not speak for everyone but myself so please think about any situation (like this) before throwing out comments about stuff you have no clue about. We arent even informed the whole story so please dont let any of these comments set your mind on a complete opinion before you think about it yourself.

By: eritreawit

eritreawit — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:27:26 +0000

well ppl i don’t think he was inspired by the traditional dress. I think he was out of idea and dicided to steal…. copy cat…lol just to let you know we do have better designers with old technology and do better job than u did… may God bless you anyway

By: ayeFerenj

ayeFerenj — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 21:42:12 +0000

@tina and Stanly
Why should we be proud coz some designer took our long lived traditional cloth and show it to the world.why do u think we care if the world know our cloth or not.or may be do u think we can’t do that if we want to promote our cloth,u think every thing can only be done by u guys.and we should give u all we got and let u show us to the world.we don’t have mouth or professionals to introduce our culture to the world.just because we r African? Doing business is another thing coz wn u do business both party get profit out of it wt do we got out of this one.Tell me what business was proposed to Ethiopia for this I know may be it is legal bla bla bla ,ya he can do it ,but don’t tell me it has any thing to do with promoting Ethiopia and Business Pls ,Ya we r proud ppl and guess what it is us today who r being told From coffee-to fashion ,i don’t want to do business in ethiopia ….. guess what it will be u tommorow.

By: Tina

Tina — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:44:30 +0000

By reading all of the negative comments above which claim to be written by Ethiopians, I would NEVER want to do any business in Ethiopia. Keep up the good work on ruining any investment for your country.

By: Stanley

Stanley — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:35:07 +0000

Give me a break. Ethiopia is FILLED with little shops selling rip off designers from all over the world, and regarding Mathew Williamson’s designs, you are asking “is this legal”?!? Ethiopia should be proud that someone as talented as Mathew Williamson is highlighting Ethiopian fashion. From coffee to fashion to NGO’s, Ethiopians keep knocking everyone down, making it difficult for anyone to do business in the country. They just ruin it for themselves in the end because people will want to invest elsewhere. They have so much pride that their heads are stuck in the clouds. No one will want ANYTHING to do with the country if they keep up this kind of negative attitude. Take it as a compliment Ethiopia!

By: Mira

Mira — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:02:59 +0000

I wonder what happened afterwards, is there any consequence for such acts? and maybe if there’s anyone in the design profession, please let us know, is this legal?

By: Dagmawi

Dagmawi — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:11:05 +0000

Matthew Williamson,

You did not stole simply a design of a cloth but our(Ethiopian’s) traditional cloth which defines our culture and differentiate from all other countries.
What I’m sure is, you don’t read our history, we are the only African’s who didn’t colonized by another countries. We didn’t let things go easily, WE NEVER FORGET OUR ENEMY.