If you like stripes, then model, activist, and entrepreneur Liya Kebede’s fashion and home decor line, lemlem, has you covered. Whether on shoes or pillows, beach dresses or throw blankets, the pattern is well represented in her breezy artisanal designs. “I personally love stripes, but in order to make each garment pop, we always add a contrasting color at the tip of each item,” says Kebede, offering an alternative to the graphic statement’s notoriously traditional vibe. “This keeps our products looking fresh and playful.” In fact, the sunny aesthetic is also meaningful: Recalling customary regional motifs, her brand’s fabrics are handwoven on wood looms by artisans in Ethiopia, her birthplace, and a portion of the sales goes to the Liya Kebede Foundation, which addresses the health concerns of African women and focuses on life-saving maternity care. What else is this style icon and mother of two passionate about? Read on . . .
Describe your home in five words or less. New York prewar apartment.
What’s your favorite piece that you purchased for this home? I really love my sofa. It’s sleek and modern but also super-comfy.
What lemlem pieces do you have in your own home? I have a few of our large Doko pillows scattered throughout my apartment. They add the perfect pop of color to my mostly neutral decor.
How does the brand reflect your personal design sensibility? I like pieces that are easy but still really chic, fresh, and modern. It’s the look and feel I strive for in my home and also with lemlem.
What’s on your bedside table? My iPad, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, water, a notebook and pen, and a small tray for my jewelry.
If you could own any work of art, what would it be and why? I recently sat for a Francesco Clemente portrait, and it was such a wonderful and special experience. I’d love to own a piece of his to remember it by.
If you could only save one object in your home, what would it be? The photos of my kids that I have framed on my mantel.
What song has been playing most often in your home of late? I’ve been listening to Benjamin Clementine a lot lately.
What was last show playing on your TV? Le Bureau des Legendes. It’s a new French series that I’ve gotten really into. I like watching in my room while relaxing in my bed.
What’s always in your fridge? Avocados, whole milk, eggs, bottles of Coca Cola, and water.
Most nights you eat dinner . . . At the kitchen table with my kids. It’s always casual, and we either cook or order takeout from one of our favorite restaurants.
Before you leave the house you always . . . Make sure I have my phone!
When you get home after a long day, the first thing you do is . . . Change into my PJs.
What’s next for lemlem? This has been a really exciting year, and we have never felt better about the product. The Resort 17 collection was our best yet and walked the line between beachwear and city wear. We do have a couple of exciting collaborations in the pipeline—I can’t say more yet, but I will say that we love shoes!
