Endelea
Endelea is an ethical fashion brand founded in Milan, Italy, to create clothes and accessories in African wax fabrics with a made in Italy design.
The name in Swahili means “go ahead without giving up”, and the mission of the brand is sustainability.
The garments are the result of shared creativity, where the design conceived in the Milan headquarters takes shape on clothes and accessories handmade in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The beauty of this co-shared model is that instead of just buying the fabrics in Tanzania and sew them elsewhere, the knowledge and expertise stays local, so that Tanzanian tailors and dressmakers have job opportunities and the possibility to further develop their skills.
The protagonists of all the collections are the colorful wax fabrics found in local markets.
You’ll have plenty to choose among flounced dresses and skirts, palazzo pants and whimsical tops, with ribbons and drawstrings to adjust necklines and waistline. I really like these garments for their authenticity and colorful vibes, and you can also buy products for home décor like pillow cases and table runners.
It is an ethical brand so it is important to mention that if you buy these products, you also contribute to reinvest portion of revenues in coaching and mentoring fashion students in Tanzania!