FAQS
WOMEN'S COLLECTION FAQ
What is YEMA women's clothing?
YEMA women's is a luxury East African heritage collection — wide-leg pants, rompers, jumpsuits, hoodies, crop tops, skirts, and parkas, each carrying Ethiopian and Kenyan cultural motifs. Pieces are designed by Artistic Director Yema Khalif and grounded in Amharic script, Abyssinian angel symbolism, and the Meskel cross. Every silhouette is built for versatility — boardroom to dance floor without changing clothes.
What is the price range for YEMA women's pieces?
YEMA women's pieces range from $100 for crop tops and entry pieces to $400 for signature items like the Hawi Fikir Romper. The Jill Hamer Pants, the Mushiraye Dress Shirt, the Belite Meskel Pants — fall between $280 and $560.
What does the Jill Hamer Pants name mean?
The Jill Hamer Pants are named after an angel investor who helped bring YEMA into the world. The pants carry three sacred motifs: the Lalibela angel (a symbol of protection found in the ancient churches of Ethiopia), the Meskel cross (good energy and safe passage), and Fikir — the Amharic word for love — woven into every thread.
What is the Hawi Fikir Romper?
The Hawi Fikir Romper is named after co-founder Hawi Awash. Fikir (ፍቅር) means love in Amharic. The all-over print is Ge'ez script — the ancient alphabet of Ethiopia, one of the oldest writing systems still in use. The 17th-century Abyssinian angel motifs at the waist carry symbols of peace, victory, and prosperity.
How does YEMA women's sizing run?
Sizing varies by piece. The Hawi Fikir Romper runs generous — size down. The Jill Hamer Pants are true to size. Each product page includes a specific fit note.
Is YEMA women's clothing ethically made?
Every piece is produced in small batches with family-owned manufacturers committed to ethical labor practices. Current manufacturing partners are in China and Ethiopia, with 2026 expanding to artisans in Kenya, Taiwan, and Italy. Materials include recycled polyester, recycled bamboo, and cotton.
Does YEMA give back?
20% of proceeds — in-store and online — funds education for orphaned children in Kenya and Ethiopia through the HAWI & YEMA Foundation. Over six years, the Foundation has supported more than 400 students and built two schools.
MEN'S COLLECTION FAQ
What is YEMA men's clothing?
YEMA men's is a luxury East African heritage collection — track jackets, track pants, hoodies, jumpsuits, bombers, parkas, and vests — carrying Ethiopian and Kenyan cultural motifs rooted in 17th-century Abyssinian heritage. The signature piece is the Classic Track Jacket, featuring the Abyssinian angel motif down the sleeve in multiple colorways including Addis Green, Addis Black, Addis Yellow, Kibera Blue, Kibera Soil, Navy, and Off-White.
What does the Abyssinian angel motif mean?
The 17th-century Abyssinian angel motif represents love, peace, victory, and prosperity — symbols carried forward from ancient Ethiopia. Abyssinia is the historical name for Ethiopia, a civilization that was never colonized and held its own cultural sovereignty for centuries. These are sacred symbols, worn by those who carry that heritage forward.
What is the GJH Jumpsuit?
The GJH Jumpsuit — Good Joyful Human — is YEMA's hero product. Available in Olive and Clay, it is a premium cotton utility jumpsuit with gold accent buttons, custom engraved zippers, and ample pockets. At $750, it is the brand's most elevated everyday piece.
What is the YEMESKEL Parka?
The YEMESKEL Parka is named for the Meskel cross — a sacred Ethiopian Orthodox symbol representing good energy, protection, and safe passage. Available in Olive, Addis Black, and Lalibela, it is a waterproof parka built for all seasons.
How does YEMA men's sizing run?
The Classic Track Jacket and Track Pants run true to size for men. Women sizing down two sizes is recommended for the Track Jacket. Each product page includes specific fit notes.
Does YEMA give back?
20% of proceeds fund education for orphaned children in Kenya and Ethiopia through the HAWI & YEMA Foundation. Over six years, the Foundation has supported more than 400 students and built two schools.
ESSENTIALS COLLECTION FAQ
What is the YEMA Essentials collection?
YEMA Essentials are the entry point into the brand — GJH hoodies, zip hoodies, joggers, tees, and socks carrying YEMA's signature motifs at accessible price points. The GJH line stands for Good Joyful Human — YEMA's north star philosophy, embroidered across the chest of every piece in the collection.
What does GJH mean?
Good Joyful Human. It is YEMA's core philosophy — the belief that joy is not incidental but essential, that goodness is something you embody and carry into every room you enter. The GJH embroidery across the chest is YEMA's north star, stitched in high-quality thread on every hoodie, zip hoodie, and crop top in the collection.
What colorways are available in the GJH collection?
GJH hoodies and zip hoodies are available in Addis Black, Kibera Green, Lali Red, Nairobi Sky, and Maasai Mara — each colorway named after places and landscapes that carry cultural meaning for YEMA's founders.
What does the skating giraffe symbol mean?
The YEMA giraffe represents reaching for heights while staying grounded — giraffes have the largest hearts of any land animal, two feet long, pumping blood all the way to the sky while their feet stay planted on the earth. The skating giraffe specifically represents fearless movement — refusing to stay small, moving with joy and intention regardless of terrain.
Are YEMA Essentials true to size?
GJH hoodies run true to size for men. Women typically size down one. Crop tops run true to size. Each product page includes specific fit guidance.
Does purchasing YEMA Essentials support the Foundation?
20% of proceeds across all YEMA collections — including Essentials — funds education for orphaned children in Kenya and Ethiopia through the HAWI & YEMA Foundation.