Matthew Williamson should not be blackmailed in to submission to this frivolous Ethiopian government claim to the costume as a national trademark protected.
The design and fabric is equally used by Ethiopia's neighboring country, Eritrea.
If Ethiopians are happy to wear Western culture inspired clothing disign, so should Westerners.

Posted by: Simon | December 14, 2007 8:14 AM

I can't believe they're serious, because AFAIK you cannot place entire cultural traditions under copyright.

It seems more likely that the Ethiopian government is trying to blow its own trumpet and perhaps attract tourists to come and buy the originals.

If that's the case, it's a shame they're drawing negative attention to themselves in the process.

Posted by: H. | December 15, 2007 10:13 AM

It's surprising to me that you would say such things with such a level of insensitivity...oh but wait, you are Westerners, God forbid you don't get what you want.

To Simon: What's there to defend in a Western culture? The reason western clothing is so widespread is because western companies want it to be. You don't see Ethiopian/Eritireans out there trying to get people to wear our traditional wear do you? Again, this so called Western culture comprises many countries who, unfortunately, don't have anything worthwhile to define their culture as unique.

To the other person who identifies as H., find something else to say...selling traditional clothing is hardly a means of raising the income of the national economy.

It pains me to think that the two of you are supporters of a modern day colonialism, where Africa remains the dark continent and needs the intermediate white man to make its unique culture known.

Get out of this boxed frame of mind that you guys have and see it from the other side.

Posted by: friendly visitor | December 17, 2007 1:12 AM

Hear hear friendly vistor

What do you expect from someone who is British he's only practicing what his ancestors preached over the last 150 years.

Not this time I am going to make sure that this will not die down. Its typical of the British and I should know I have been brought up in this little dirty island with these disillusioned society.

You only have to see their national dish originally fish and chips now Indian curry. What's next they might take our national dishes and say its theirs just like their obsession with coffee not knowing where it comes from.

Yes H & Simon the Lavazza coffee beans used for your peers who drink in Notting Hill and and St Johns if you people come from London don't know anything about culture.

What a de-culturised society, going around the world stealing peoples identities and seem to think you can innovate them.

How about looking within and seeing if you can do anything with your food - thats what the rest of the Europeans can at least be identified with something with their history. You only have to go to the pub and see the selection of beers that are predominantly foreign.

PS: I am Eritrean and proud of my culture and the last thing I want is another British invasion with "high-cultured" designers attempting to get their claws on my identity I am not Indian for God's sake. Also, H the last thing we want in Eritrea is fake tourism as I can see from Kenya's Mombasa where gun carrying Kenyan soldiers are protecting the white tourist from the native people.

You keep your tourism and go back to Spain I think they have began to tolerate you after 30 years of Little Britain's chav invasion.

God bless the Queen.

Posted by: Taking Chances | January 3, 2008 8:50 PM

This is to Simon, please answer this; The designer Mathew presented these two traditional Ethiopian\Eritrea dresses as his own design claiming that he got the inspiration from Africa, when (and you can go do the research here) these two dresses are EXACT copies of Ethiopia\Eritrea traditional clothes. Do you think this is correct? and why should it surprise you for Ethiopia government and bloggers(mostly Ethiopia) are upset about this.

This may mean nothing to you but this are dresses have traditional/cultural value. It is what Ethiopians\Eritrea identify themselves with, hence when something like this happens, you should expect an uproar(because Ethiopia\Eritrea value their culture).

Now had Mr. Mathew said he Got this clothes from Ethiopia(and not plainly Africa 'cause Ethiopia & Eritrea are the only countries with these clothes, Do the research Here to convince yourself) and accredit them as the original designers then Nothing would happen.

Also, please don't put condescending remarks.

Let me know What you think,
Eric

Posted by: eric | May 30, 2008 3:12 PM