lemlem began in 2007, when Liya Kebede saw that traditional Ethiopian weavers were losing work as local demand changed. She started with modern versions of handwoven pieces, then built a label that gives the craft a wider audience and creates jobs for artisans. The dresses keep that origin visible through stripes, airy cotton and silhouettes that move when you do.

The separates make a persuasive resort uniform. Wide-leg pants, shorts, skirts and simple tops can be worn together without looking like a set, which is exactly what you want when the day shifts from beach to lunch to somewhere with a dress code. Keep the accessories simple and let the weave supply the pattern.

Cover-ups and swim pieces are the practical end of the same idea. Kebede’s work has always linked clothing with a larger investment in women’s economic independence, so these are not throwaway vacation layers. Pack one over a swimsuit, then wear it again with trousers when the temperature drops.

Our honest take: lemlem is at its best when the stripes feel handmade and the shape stays generous. It is not a line for people who want polished minimalism, and the color is part of the point, not an optional detail. If you take one thing away, buy the piece that can move between water, walking and dinner, because that is where the label earns its keep.