Anna Getaneh: Former Intl. Model Promotes Fashion For a Cause

Anna Getaneh is no stranger to the fashion and model industry. Born in a small village in Ethiopia, Getaneh entered the life of high fashion– walking the runways of Paris and Milan and other cities and towns across the world. In the 1990s, you could spot Anna Getaneh’s face on the fashion runways of NY City and Milan for major designers such as Saint Laurent’s. Getaneh used her leverage in the high fashion industry as a platform to launch her passion for humanitarian services to developing countries, namely Ethiopia.

In 2004, Getaneh launched African Mosaique, a Johannesburg-based international company which promotes high-end African-inspired clothing and accessories. African Mosaique attempts to marry African culture with fashion and art. The organization provides a window for emerging, African designers to collaborate with one another to develop unique fabric and designs.  The African Mosaique collection includes fabrics, both industrial and hand loom, which include unique designs created by dying, weaving, and embroidery. The Organization continues its legacy of work in the African community by demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability. African Mosaique participates in an initiative called Fashion Outreach, an American-based non-profit organization encouraging minority participation in the U.S. fashion industry. Proceeds from fashion sustainability efforts have supported the development of a multi-sectoral development program for poor children in deprived rural areas in Ethiopia.

Getaneh’s work on the runway and in her country demonstrates how fashion can benefit community development.  You can read more about African Mosaique and African Mosaique-sponsored fashion events by visiting http://www.africanmosaique.com.

Posted by Fade Arewa on Mar 24 2010. Filed under Fashion, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry