ZAAF

Founded in 2014 by Ethiopian designer and entrepreneur Abai Schulze, ZAAF takes its name from the Amharic word for "tree" — a symbol of growth, strength, and resilience that runs through the brand's design language. What began as a leather handbag label rooted in Ethiopian heritage has grown into a broader African lifestyle brand, producing accessories, jewelry, and apparel shaped by the continent's cultures, landscapes, and traditional craftsmanship.

Leather goods are still made at ZAAF's own workshop in Addis Ababa, where skilled artisans handle production start to finish. Beyond its own workshop, the brand has expanded its collaborations across the continent, now working with designers and craftspeople in Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, and South Africa to build out a growing range that includes hats, coffee, tea, travel pieces, and gifting accessories alongside its core leather line.

Schulze, who studied economics and fine arts at George Washington University, built ZAAF around a specific goal: creating durable economic opportunity for African artisans while presenting their craftsmanship to a global market through considered design and storytelling. That approach has carried the brand from its Addis Ababa roots to retail locations in Ethiopia and National Harbor, Maryland, alongside international sales through its online store — recognition that has followed in the form of features in Vogue, Elle, CNN, and Forbes, and a presentation at New York Fashion Week.