Built for the diaspora,
by the diaspora
Derbaba was born from a simple frustration: finding authentic habesha kemis outside Ethiopia meant either overpaying at a local boutique, navigating unreliable Facebook groups, or asking a relative to bring something back in their suitcase. None of those options felt right for a community that takes its clothing seriously.
The problem we are solving
Ethiopian and Eritrean traditional clothing — habesha kemis, netela, tibeb-bordered shawls, men's ceremonial tunics — is produced by skilled weavers concentrated in Shiro Meda, Gondar, Tigray, and Harari. Those weavers have world-class craft and almost no direct access to the millions of diaspora buyers in Toronto, Washington DC, London, and beyond.
Derbaba is the infrastructure layer between them. A verified seller in Addis Ababa lists a kemis for $85. A buyer in Toronto sees it, messages the seller on WhatsApp, and places an order. The seller ships it directly. No boutique markup. No middleman taking 30%. The weaver gets paid what their work is worth.
Who we serve
We built Derbaba for two groups. First, the diaspora buyer — second- or third-generation Ethiopian and Eritrean families in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe who want authentic traditional dress for weddings, Enkutatash, Timkat, and everyday celebrations, and who currently have no reliable way to find it.
Second, the Ethiopian seller — the weaver at a loom in Shiro Meda, the atelier in Gondar, the diaspora seller in Toronto who sources directly from family back home. These are small businesses that deserve a professional digital storefront and a direct line to serious buyers.
Our principles
Every seller on Derbaba lists their own pieces and communicates directly with buyers via WhatsApp or Telegram. There is no intermediary taking a cut — the full price goes to the maker.
We manually review every seller before their profile goes live. We look for authentic craftsmanship, honest descriptions, and reliable shipping. If a seller does not meet our standard, they do not list on Derbaba.
Listings are priced by sellers in USD, CAD or ETB. There are no hidden import markups. A flat $5 listing fee covers 90 days — no commission on sales, ever.
We are building for a community that takes its dress seriously. Habesha kemis carries meaning — ceremony, identity, ancestry. We treat that with the respect it deserves.
Ready to buy or sell?
Whether you are looking for the perfect habesha kemis or you want to list your pieces and reach diaspora buyers worldwide, Derbaba is the place to start.