Made in Africa: SAWA Shoes

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Shoe designer Mehdi Slimani shares his inspirations and why he chooses to make his super stylish SAWA sneakers in Ethiopia.

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"Behind our “Made in Africa” statement, there is a factory, workers, their families, a school, a hospital," says Slimani.

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"SAWA stands for a new face of African fashion," says designer Mehdi Slimani.  Shop SAWA's collaboration with Shine Shine.

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Shop SAWA's Tsague Leopard sneakers.

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Shop SAWA Shoes.

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Shop SAWA Shoes.

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"I’m fed up with the people thinking they are going to save Africa with their marketing charity actions," says Slimani.  "On Monday, Africa is HIV, on Tuesday Africa is Ebola, on Wednesday Africa is tribal war, on Thursday Africa is barefoot…there is always a good reason to make a song."