Carry 117

Our heartbeat is orphan prevention & family preservation through women empowerment. We teach at-risk women in Ethiopia to sew beautiful products. Seek justice.

Through a holistic approach, we provide a hand up, rather than a hand out. We do this by providing women with a sustainable skill and job, which allows them to provide for themselves and their children. This in turn preserves their family. Through buying this product you are helping preserve a family. Thank you for partnering with us. We truly believe it is something worth carrying. The women are being trained by a professional sewer to cut, design, sew, and make a variety of bags (products that “carry” things) out of burlap and canvas. We hope these products will be sold at small shops and churches, and to people who believe in the mission. Learn to do good. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17

We want to carry this verse with us, and want it to be the verse that is driving the organization forward. Message us for more information or if you would like to get involved!

15/09/2026

Apparently we forgot to tell you that Carry 117 went to fashion week. 😍

A few years ago, FOUR of our Carry 117 bags made their way onto the runway in Atlanta, and somehow these photos never made it to our feed.

But LOOK AT THEM. 👏🏾

There’s something pretty incredible about seeing a bag handcrafted by a woman on our team in Ethiopia carried down a fashion runway in Atlanta, Georgia.

Because behind every one of these bags is so much more than leather and stitching. There’s a woman. A job. A skill she has worked hard to master. A team that takes enormous pride in what they create. And a product designed to travel far beyond the walls where it was made.

From a workshop in Ethiopia → to a runway in Atlanta.

Yeah… we probably should have shared these sooner. 😍

Handmade looks pretty good on a runway, don’t you think?

10/09/2026

And this is what it looked like at the end. 🥹💛

Completely different creations.
Stories woven into the colors, fabrics, and tiny details they chose.

What started as an invitation from Mama Ann to create simply for the sake of creating became something so much more personal.

A memory.
A person.
A place.
A feeling.
A piece of home.
A reminder of something beautiful.

There was no right way to make them. There was no product at the end that needed to be sold.

Just something they could hold up and say, “This is mine. This means something to me.”

And maybe that’s part of the gift of creating.

We put little pieces of ourselves into the things we make.

Thank you, Mama Ann, for giving our Carry 117 family the space to do exactly that. 🧵💛

Created to create.
And what a beautiful thing to witness.

09/09/2026

“I chose the green fabric because it is my favorite color. Maybe that’s because I love nature. I used to wear green as a uniform when I was little, so it also brought back some memories.

When I saw the flowers on the fabric, I loved them because I especially love flowers that grow on trees.

Choosing the fabric and creating something with it was a new experience for me, and I really enjoyed it.”

~Mulu

08/09/2026

“I chose black fabric with olive touches because I love olive and darker colors. I’m not really drawn to bright colors—I’ve always loved darker shades.
I decided to sew a butterfly onto it because butterflies remind me of my childhood. I used to play with butterflies with my friends, so it brought back those happy memories.”

~Ayni

07/09/2026

“I chose a sparkling fabric and decided to sew a cross onto it. As a Christian, I was thinking about Jesus and how He was crucified because of His love for us. I was thinking about Jesus throughout the whole process.

I was also thinking about how Ann showed her love for us by bringing these fabrics and all the accessories and sharing her skills with us. I believe that love comes from the love she learned from Jesus.

This experience reminded me that love can be shared not only through words, but also through what we teach, create, and give to others.”

~Tagesech

06/09/2026

“I chose the teal fabric because I loved how soft it felt. It reminded me of a sweater and pajamas I had when I was a baby. I also love drawing hearts—I even draw them all over my hands.

I loved working with this fabric because it gave me the freedom to be creative and express myself.”

~Martha

05/09/2026

“I chose purple because it is my favorite color. I always find myself choosing purple dresses and scarves.

I added a butterfly to my design because I love how colorful and beautiful butterflies are.

This was my first experience making something like this, and it made me appreciate my own effort and what I am capable of creating.“

~Fanta

04/09/2026

“I chose gray fabric and decided to sew flowers using blue fabric. While I was making it, I kept thinking about my aunt. She was very good at crocheting, knitting, and making beautiful things with her hands.

Growing up, we had blue blankets that she made for our dad, and those blankets have always reminded us of her. I was thinking about those memories while I was creating my piece.

She was very talented at making things, just like Ann, so the whole experience reminded me of her and brought back many special memories.”

~Medi

Address

Addis Ababa

Website

http://www.carry117.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Carry 117 posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Carry 117: