East African Clothing Stores in the United States: Where to Find Dirac, Habesha Kemis & More

Published 2025-05-08 · Updated 2026-08-31 · 6 min read · National

Find authentic East African traditional clothing — Somali dirac, Ethiopian habesha kemis, Eritrean zuria, Kenyan kitenge, and more — at stores across the US.

East African traditional clothing is both beautiful and culturally significant. Whether you're shopping for an Eid celebration, Ethiopian Christmas (Genna), Eritrean Independence Day, or simply want to wear traditional dress, several stores across America carry authentic East African garments.

Traditional Clothing by Community

Somali Clothing

**Dirac** — Full-length women's dress, often sheer fabric over a gorgorad (underdress). Worn for weddings and Eid.

**Guntiino** — Traditional wrap-around garment, typically worn for special occasions

**Macawis** — Men's sarong/wrap, worn casually or at the mosque

**Garbasaar** — Lightweight shawl worn over the head and shoulders

**Gaashaan** — Traditional formal men's outfit

Ethiopian Clothing

**Habesha Kemis** — Traditional white dress with colorful embroidered borders. Worn for Ethiopian Christmas, Easter, and New Year.

**Netela** — Lightweight white shawl with colored border

**Gabi** — Heavier shawl/wrap, worn in highland regions

**Kuta** — Men's traditional tunic with embroidered collar

**Tilfi** — Formal dress fabric, often black with colorful borders

Eritrean Clothing

**Zuria** — Traditional women's dress, similar to habesha kemis but with regional variations

**Hade atse** — Red-bordered formal dress for special occasions

Kenyan & East African Fabric

**Kitenge (Kanga)** — Colorful printed fabric used for women's wraps and clothing

**Dashiki** — West/East African inspired shirts and tops

Best East African Clothing Stores by City

Minneapolis, MN:

**Karmel Square Boutiques** (Cedar-Riverside) — Multiple clothing stalls inside Karmel Square market. Best selection of Somali dirac, hijabs, and accessories.

**Fatima's Clothing** (Lake Street) — Custom dirac orders, excellent fabric selection.

**Habesha Import Store** (University Ave, St. Paul) — Ethiopian habesha kemis, netela, and traditional accessories.

Washington DC / DMV:

**Awash Ethiopian Store** (Alexandria, VA) — Excellent habesha kemis collection, custom orders.

**Eritrea Shop** (Silver Spring, MD) — Eritrean zuria and traditional items.

**Karmel Market DC** (Columbia Heights) — Somali clothing and fabrics.

Columbus, OH:

**Somali Bazaar** (Morse Road) — Dirac, garbasaar, and macawis. Also carries prayer items.

**East African Imports** (Cleveland Ave) — Mixed East African clothing and household items.

Atlanta, GA:

**Clarkston Market** — Various stalls selling East African clothing

**Desta Ethiopian Imports** (Decatur) — Habesha kemis and fabric.

Online Shopping Options

**Etsy** — Search "habesha kemis" or "dirac fabric" for handmade and authentic items

**Amazon** — Some Ethiopian sellers, quality varies

**Direct from Ethiopia/Somalia** — Friends and family can ship items; DHL and FedEx ship from East Africa

Custom Orders

Many East African seamstresses in the US accept custom orders:

Bring your fabric and measurements

Allow 2–4 weeks for custom work

For Eid, order 6–8 weeks in advance

Custom dirac typically costs $80–$200 depending on fabric and complexity

Sources and further reading

Shaafi Directory — current local listings

Next step

Search the Shaafi Directory for current local listings and contact details.

Search East African businesses or send a correction.