Ethipian Clothes, Clothing (or Habesha Kemis)
An Ethiopian coffee dress is the traditional attire of Ethiopian women. In Ethiopia, this dress is called habesha qemis. Rastafarian women in the African diaspora also wear these dresses. The ankle length dress is made of white cotton. Most dresses are decorated with Ethiopian motifs. The dress is worn during the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
The coffee dress is an informal style. For formal events, women wear Ethiopian dresses made of chiffon (fabric), which is a sheer silk or rayon cloth. Many women wrap a shawl called a netela around the formal dress, see Culture of Ethiopia.
Netela or netsela is a handmade cloth many Eritrean and Ethiopian women use to cover their head and shoulders when they wear clothing made out of chiffon, especially when attending church. It is made up of two layers of fabric, unlike gabi which is made out of four. Kuta is the male version.