We are
Organization: YEMA
Date Opened: November 2021
Address: 26 Mercer Street
Hours of Operation: 12 PM – 6 PM, Daily
Web and Social Media: Website | Instagram
Fashion start-up YEMA opened its NYC flagship store within our district. The streetwear brand works towards a noble mission to help others — providing scholarships to educate orphaned children in Ethiopia and Kenya. Check out their new store on 26 Mercer Street and read our interview below with YEMA’s Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Hawi Awash, for more information!
1. What does your company do? What industry are you in?
YEMA is a clothing brand started in California. We have a storefront in Tiburon, California, near San Francisco. Our main mission is to help educate kids in Ethiopia and Kenya. Through the brand, we donate a percentage to help educate kids in both countries by providing scholarship opportunities.
2. What brought your company to SoHo?
Through our store in California, we understood that we have a lot of customers that are actually based in New York, so we were looking to get into the New York market. SoHo, specifically Mercer Street, is known for streetwear and fashion brands, so we wanted to make sure that we were surrounded by brands that are somewhat like us!
3. What sets your organization apart from the rest?
We focus on putting out streetwear that promotes love, unity, and diversity. A lot of the messages in our designs are centered around that. We also have an aspect of social entrepreneurship which is very different from the brands that are out there.
