Couleurs NY Handbag Collection Celebrates Ethiopian Artistry and Craftsmanship
Shop the handmade leather bag collection at The Forum’s Holiday Market on Dec. 5 and Dec. 19.
When Ethiopian-born, New York City-based designer Menen Hailu (CU’08) was conceptualizing the vision for her luxe handbag collection Couleurs NY, she wanted to introduce a brand to the world of fashion that stitched together her passions for style, sustainability, and social impact. Since its creation in 2022, the consciously crafted collection—which has been featured in the pages of celebrated publications like Marie Claire and Harper's Bazaar—has evolved into a blueprint for merging fashion, artistry, and cultural reverence.
The impetus behind Hailu’s brand is using style as a means for women’s empowerment, creatively and economically. The collective of artisans in Ethiopia who handmake the high-quality, ethically-sourced handbags she designs is 83 percent women, and their craftsmanship connects directly to the customers who wear them.
Across the business, Hailu aims to inspire women to take agency over their own narratives, whether it be through something as simple as using their outfit as a form of self-expression or as expansive as sharing their craftsmanship with the world to build economic stability. She believes that when women are uplifted, communities thrive.
From sustainability to social equity, the brand strives to take a multifaceted approach to driving change.
“At Columbia, one of my concentrations was women's rights,” said Hailu, who earned a master's degree from Columbia University in Human Rights. “I learned the impact that empowering women economically has on their children. Women's rights are inextricably linked to children's rights. I believe that fashion is one way to bring about positive social change for women and an opportunity to practice sustainability, at a time when consumers are increasingly becoming conscious shoppers.”
From deep-toned totes like the Bleu Foncé to sculptural, art-inspired crossbody bags like the Papillon, the sustainably made statement pieces featured in the Couleurs NY collection are ethically sourced from discarded farm animal hides. The collection's vibrant colors reflect the intricacy and innovation of East African craftsmanship and artistry. The brand’s collaboration with Ethiopian artisans helps spotlight their often-unsung skills and eco-friendly practices.
“Ethiopia has been known for providing high-quality leather globally for a long time,” she said. “The country is the highest livestock producer in Africa, with talented young artisans.”
For Hailu—whose inspirations include the creative arts, nature, bold hues, cultural influences, and everyday people—the products are about more than a look; they're a feeling.
“I created Couleurs to offer colorful leather bag designs with unique and classic shapes for an inspired style,” she shared. “The bags are lightweight, comfortable, and aim to keep women inspired in their everyday life, while shopping consciously.”
“The bags are lightweight, comfortable, and aim to keep women inspired in their everyday life, while shopping consciously.”
The innovative dynamism that defines New York City’s entrepreneurial scene has also been a source of inspiration for the fashion designer. That same sense of creative zeal is reflected in both the Lee C. Bollinger Forum’s Small Business Pop-Up Market series and inaugural Holiday Market, where Couleurs NY will be a vendor on Dec. 5 and Dec. 19. Both initiatives, designed to celebrate the work of local artisans and makers, are part of The Forum’s continued commitment to supporting small businesses throughout the community.
Hailu says the events have been instrumental in bolstering brand recognition for Couleurs NY.
“It has been a pleasure to raise awareness about our brand to students, professors, and the neighboring community,” she said. “The offering of free space is a rare opportunity and experience.”
As far as the next chapter for Hailu and Couleurs NY (which will soon launch a line of men's bags and expand wholesale), she wants to continue to use the brand and other creative endeavors as avenues for impact.
Couleurs NY is a member of the Nest Guild—a community of artisans, retailers, and philanthropists with a shared mission to support handcraft businesses and advance social equity—and has participated in fundraising galas for New York City nonprofits and Columbia Law Women's Association.
“Whenever I work on creative projects, the primary intention is to create an opportunity to give back while expressing myself creatively,” said Hailu.