Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu is a visionary entrepreneur who has transformed the global fashion industry with her sustainable and empowering footwear brand, soleRebels. Born and raised in the Zenabwork/Total area of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Alemu was determined to change the narrative of poverty in her community and nation. By reimagining what footwear could be and tapping into the rich artisanal wealth of Ethiopia, she founded soleRebels in 2005, providing well-paying jobs to hundreds of skilled artisans in her community.
Today, soleRebels is the world’s fastest-growing African footwear brand, the first to emerge from a developing nation and the first World Fair Trade Federation (WFTO) Fair Trade-certified footwear company. It has a presence in over 30 countries and sells to market giants such as Whole Foods, Urban Outfitters and Amazon. With the launch of its fully e-commerce enabled website, soleRebels is leading the charge as the first African brand to become an international job creation powerhouse.
Alemu’s impact on the global fashion industry has earned her numerous accolades, including being the first female African entrepreneur to address the Clinton Global Initiative and being named Outstanding African Business Woman by African Business Awards in 2011. She was also listed on Forbes magazine’s 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2011 and named one of Africa’s Most Successful Women in 2012.
Through her entrepreneurship, Alemu has shifted the discourse on African development from poverty alleviation to prosperity creation, showing the world that creating innovative world-class brands is the best road to greater shared prosperity for developing nations like Ethiopia. She continues to inspire women to pursue their goals without bias or barriers and elevates her nation, her continent, and her company, key to creating more prosperity across Africa and beyond.
Alemu’s philosophy is to challenge the traditional narrative about Africa and Ethiopia and to allow Ethiopians to shape their own international image. In 2011, she was chosen by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader, and has received numerous other honors and accolades, including being listed on Forbes magazine’s 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa in 2011 and being named one of Business Insider’s “Africa’s Top 5 Female Entrepreneurs” in 2012.
Alemu’s businesses have not only created jobs and prosperity in Ethiopia but have also changed the narrative about Africa, showing the world the entrepreneurial spirit, social capital, and economic potential of the continent. This feature story is a celebration of Alemu’s achievements and serves as an inspiration to all women to pursue their goals without bias or barriers.
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Joseph Omoniyi
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