Yenae

Yenaé

Yenaé is a high fashion, storytelling online jewellery brand that takes patrons on a journey inside Africa through its exquisite jewellery designs that fuse deeply rooted and diverse cultures with a twist of modern appeal. The brand focuses on creating a positive economic impact and sustainably sources local raw materials directly from the African country. Sustainability is core to Yenae’s work – they use ethically sourced Ethiopian semi-precious gemstones and their products are made from silver or recycled brass, plated with 14-carat gold or rhodium.

Yenaé is an African high fashion jewelery brand that is changing the narrative about Africa. By using Africa’s exquisite craftsmanship, creativity, and local resources in its jewlery designs with a twist of modern appeal, Yenaé is a trailblazer in its field by highlighting a positive narrative about Africa through high fashion jewelry.
Each design shares the heritage of the featured country, ensuring local and traditional knowledge is not lost. For example, their Woriro (Wo-Ree-Ro) necklace takes you to Northern & Southern parts of Ethiopia. Traditionally worn by Wollo women from Northern Ethiopia. It signifies an item of beauty and is a customary gift given to a bride on her wedding
Despite not being operational for a long time, Yenae has quickly captured the attention of global names in the fashion world such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. They already sell in over 14 countries, as well as in over 30 states in the US.

The story of its founders is also inspiring. Yenaé is co-founded by two female Ethiopian- Americans and jewelry lovers – Seble and Felekech (Fei) – who started out as high school friends in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After a similar journey through life and a move around the globe to the US, they co-founded Yenaé, a high fashion jewelry brand at the intersection of fashion, culture and storytelling.

When one shops at Yenaé, not only are they shopping for a piece of jewelry, they are also helping reshape a consumption pattern that moves away from away from fast fashion to a more sustainable fashion industry. Furthermore, Yenaé strives to contribute to the local economy in Ethiopia and across the continent. For example, they source raw materials such as semi-precious stones and have them processed by local artisans to keep the value-added within the African continent and contribute to Africa’s economic growth.
All products are 14k gold plated/rhodium, plated over brass, hypoallergenic, nickel and lead free. They’re also hand polished and painted with precision. Many pieces are also made with semi-precious gemstones, such as quartz and chrysoprase from South Ethiopia

Unique Selling Points:
• Each design tells a piece of African history.
• Sources raw materials such as semi-precious stones locally.
• 14k gold plated.
• Featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, and more