From Recycled yires to Global Runways: The $100M Empire of Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu
Maker
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu
Known For
Founding soleRebels, Garden of Coffee, and The Republic of Leather
Tools & Equipment
Recycled Rubber, Hand-loomed Cotton, Abyssinian Hemp, Global E-commerce.
Geography
Coming Soon on YouTube
What happens when you take an ancient African rebel shoe and turn it into a global fashion empire? Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu didn't just build a brand; she built a movement. Using recycled tyres and hand-loomed cotton, she turned her grandmother's backyard workshop into a $100 million global retail chain. This isn't just a shoe. It’s a rebellion against the status quo. This is soleRebels.
Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu turned a $5,000 loan into a global footwear empire. By reimagining traditional Ethiopian tire-sole shoes, she created soleRebels—the world's first fair-trade footwear brand to reach 55+ countries.
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