Buying a Netela as a Gift: One Size, Many Qualities

It fits everybody. A netela is draped rather than fitted, which removes the single biggest obstacle to gifting traditional clothing and makes it viable for a relative you have not seen in years.

It is worn regularly rather than kept for one occasion. Church, weddings, funerals, Genna, Fasika and Meskel all call for one, so a good netela earns its place in a wardrobe several times a year.

The tibeb border is where the craft lives. The woven coloured band is hand-done on quality pieces, and its width and intricacy are the honest indicator of what you are paying for.

• Mothers and grandmothers who attend church regularly
• Anyone whose current netela is yellowing or fraying
• A relative abroad who cannot buy one locally
• Holiday gifting, where it will be worn within weeks

• No sizing problem — it suits any recipient
• Worn several times a year, not once
• Quality is visible and appreciated by anyone who knows

The things worth checking before you order — this is where gifts like this most often go wrong.

• Handwoven and machine-made pieces look similar in photographs and feel completely different. Handwoven cotton is softer, slightly irregular, and considerably more expensive.
• Thickness varies by intended use. A light shema is for warm weather; a heavier weave is for cold churches and winter.
• White cotton yellows over time and many pieces are hand-wash only. Check care instructions before gifting to someone who will machine-wash everything.
• Border width is the main price driver. A very narrow printed border on a cheap listing is the tell-tale sign of a machine-made piece.