For hundreds of years in the highlands of Ethiopia, life has gone much unchanged, even today. One tradition that has stood the test of time is the passed down craft of making beads, crosses and pendants. The source of the metal has changed some – now the farmers recycle bullets from past battles and old car parts. However the techniques are largely the same.

T&H Designs has tapped into this ancient craft and has transformed these carefully crafted pieces into gorgeous pieces of wearable art. At the same time, Tigist and Haimanot, the identical twins that founded the jewelry design company, add a modern and worldly twist to the jewelry they create. Always looking for new design elements, the twins have incorporated old coins, unique beads from all over the world, leather and versatility into their designs. This unique mixture makes their jewelry one of a kind, while being uniquely Ethiopian.

T&H Designs is a small jewelry and bag design business based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia started in 2007 by twin sisters, Tigist and Haimanot. The Gemini Trust, an organization dedicated to helping the families of twins, initially sparked the girls’ interest in making jewelry, and, since then, T&H has grown into a thriving business known for having the highest quality products and as a leader of the Addis Ababa fashion industry.

The twins are interested in growing both their business and community. Tigist and Haimanot have a special interest in helping disadvantaged women. In the past, the girls have trained women undergoing fistula surgery in jewelry making. More recently, T&H Designs has begun offering jobs to graduates of the Yaya Girls program – a program dedicated to helping young, vulnerable female runners find alternative career options to running.

T&H Designs currently is selling their designs in Australia, Europe, and the United States, and T&H have begun selling their designs online.