Latest Insights

View all Insights

Chinese investors assess new Ethiopia industrial park 28 Aug 2019

Chinese industrialists from Kunshan city, a major clothing manufacturing centre in southeastern Jiangsu province, are eyeing potential investments in Ethiopia's Dire Dawa Industrial Park, China's ambassador to Ethiopia has told just-style.

How to support a virtuous sourcing circle in Ethiopia 24 May 2019

From Bangladesh to Ethiopia, garment manufacturing is a potential path to economic development. But this will only happen if Western brands and retailers adopt specific sourcing practices, according to Dorothée Baumann-Pauly and Auret van Heerden from the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights.

Worker turnover and unrest undermines Ethiopia sourcing 9 May 2019

High worker turnover in Ethiopian garment factories means brands often end up paying more to source from the country than other low cost locations, according to a new report – which is calling on global brands and retailers to take steps to align their business practices with realities.

Africa continues to face challenges to reach full potential 15 Oct 2018

Speakers and exhibitors at the recent Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week are optimistic at the continent's capability in the textile and apparel sector – but concur that many challenges remain before it can reach its full potential.

TPP demise helps propel fabric mills to Ethiopia 8 May 2017

Textile investment is pouring into Ethiopia, helped by the shared vision of brands, manufacturers and fabric mills, government support, preferential trade deals, investments in infrastructure, low costs – and an unexpected windfall from the end of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Latest News

View all News

Hela Clothing recognised for workforce inclusivity in Ethiopia 23 Dec 2019

Hela Clothing, the Sri Lanka based global apparel manufacturer, has been named the Most Inclusive Employer of the Year in Ethiopia.

Apparel testing lab opens at Ethiopia's Hawassa Industrial Park 29 Nov 2019

Verification, testing and certification company SGS has opened a new apparel and textile testing laboratory in Ethiopia – one of East Africa's most important textile and garment manufacturing sites.

Ethiopia garment unions agree need for collective action 28 Nov 2019

Leaders from factory unions in Ethiopia's textile and garment sector have agreed to work together towards a common collective bargaining strategy following a meeting in Addis Ababa this week. 

Japan's Itochu confirms support for Ethiopia garment sector 16 Sep 2019

Japan's Itochu Corporation has signed an agreement with the Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute and the Ethiopian Investment Commission to further develop the African nation's growing textile and clothing industry. 

Unions enlighten Ethiopia on collective bargaining 23 Aug 2019

Representatives from garment unions in South Africa and Ethiopia have met in Cape Town this month to share social dialogue and collective bargaining strategies that could bolster the living wage campaign in Ethiopia. 

ILO launches decent work programme in Ethiopia 10 Jul 2019

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a programme to promote decent work and inclusive industrialisation in Ethiopia – with an initial focus on the garment and textile industries.

New project to create a transparent garment value chain in Ethiopia 7 Jun 2019

A new EU-funded project is set to launch today (7 June) in a move aimed at benefitting some 17,000 garment workers in Ethiopia by creating a sustainable, transparent and inclusive value chain. 

Workers strike at Ethiopia's Hawassa Industrial Park 15 Mar 2019

Thousands of workers at the Hawassa Industrial Park in Ethiopia, the country's flagship textile and apparel production base, are reported to be on strike as part of wider unrest across the city.

Proposals to tackle low wages in Ethiopian garment factories 14 Mar 2019

Workers in Ethiopian garment factories are continuing to earn chronically low wages and are discriminated against for union affiliations, a new survey has revealed.

Label specialist ITL sets up operations in Ethiopia 16 Jan 2019

Apparel label business ITL Intelligent Label Solutions has become the latest firm to set up premises in Ethiopia's Hawassa Industrial Park in a move it claims makes it the first global apparel label manufacturer to establish a factory in the country.