Loading…
The Tigrayan community has faced one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history. Despite this — and in many ways because of it — Tigrayan women have kept their culture alive. Through their crafts. Their clothing. Their traditions. And the festivals that mark each season of life.
Ashenda, the traditional women's festival, is more than a celebration. It is a symbol of resilience. It says: we are still here, we are still making, we are still beautiful.
This platform exists to carry that symbol into the digital world. To give Tigrayan women artisans a place to sell their work. To give the diaspora a place to stay connected to their roots. To give the world a window into a culture that refuses to disappear.
“Empower Tigrayan women through cultural commerce, community, and connection.”
Impact
By the numbers.
240+
Artisans supported
3
Countries
$1.2M
Paid to women makers
2026
Year of relaunch
What We Believe
Three pillars.
Cultural Preservation
Every product comes with provenance — the maker, the region, the meaning. Knowledge does not get lost when commerce remembers.
Economic Empowerment
Direct payment to women makers. Fair commission. Transparent reporting. We measure success in incomes earned, not just orders shipped.
Diaspora Connection
From Mekelle to Minneapolis to Dubai — the diaspora is part of one community. Ashenda is a thread that runs between us.
A Message from the Team
We started this for the women in our family.
For our grandmothers, who taught us to read meaning into a pattern. For our mothers, who carried it across an ocean. For our cousins back home, who never stopped making.
And for the next generation — who deserve to grow up knowing this culture is alive, valued, and thriving in every place we have made home.
— The Ashenda Team
Get in touch →Supported By
Building a data-backed case for cultural commerce.
UN WomenUSAIDFord FoundationDiaspora Council
Funding partnerships in development. Final logos pending grant confirmation.