Cameron Williams

Inspired by the farmers and indigenous traditions of Ethiopian and African cultures, this project aims to embody the artisanal beauty and spirit of coffee culture, and illycaffè’s African coffee producers. This apron design makes use of lightweight, biodegradable and breathable bark cloth from Southern Uganda. This sustainable textile was over-dyed to resemble the rich coffee cherries that precede the Arabica coffee beans produced to make illycaffè’s signature nine-bean blend. Combining the origin of Arabica coffee in Ethiopia and its cultural significance with the spirit of African frugal functionality and artisanal approach to indigenous crafts, Cameron emphasizes the cultural importance of coffee to Ethiopia.