About

Aster's founder, Esther, has her roots in Ethiopia and Germany. Against this background, the brand combines both cultures, which merge in a minimalist, handcrafted unisex design.

Ethiopia has a long tradition in the leather industry and the highest livestock population in all of Africa. This high livestock population results from the agricultural lifestyle of rural regions in Ethiopia. Over 60% of Ethiopians generate income from traditional agriculture, which is characterized by small family farms and is far from mass production. Animals live in nature and are constantly out grazing with their farmers.

Thus, the leather for Aster bags is obtained from sustainable livestock farming as a by-product of meat production.

The raw material is further processed in a tannery in Addis Ababa, which attaches great importance to ecological processes. The sustainable processing of the leather is important for the environment and workers who are not exposed to toxic chemicals.

Once the leather is tanned and ready for manufacturing, it is delivered to Aster's partner production facility in Addis Ababa. The production is run by an Ethiopian who attaches great importance to social sustainability.

The entire production process, from the animal to the finished bag, takes place in Ethiopia. This creates local jobs and knowledge transfer, which drives development of the Ethiopian economy.

Aster not only wants to sell great products, but also create value for the country of production. Future-oriented and sustainable investments are essential in developing countries like Ethiopia to avoid exploitation like other regions of the world experience.

Aster enables customers worldwide to create a positive future for Ethiopia.

Ethiopian leather is known for its high quality, durability and strength. In combination with the puristic design and high-quality workmanship, Aster bags are lifelong companions that outlast trends.