Irreecha 2025: Where Oromo Culture Meets Runway Glamour

By Dagmawit Zerihun
Published on 10/06/25

Long before the world coined the idea of Thanksgiving, the Oromo people of Ethiopia had already been gathering around water and prayer to give thanks for life, rain and harvest. Their festival, Irrecha, has been passed down through generations — not as a single day of feasting, but as a spiritual and communal moment of gratitude.

Each year, when the heavy rains give way to Birraa — the bright season of sunshine and fertility — thousands travel to Hora Arsadi in Bishoftu and Hora Finfinne in Addis Ababa. Families arrive dressed in white or in colourful Oromo attire. Children clutch green grass and yellow daisies, symbols of renewal, while elders lead them toward the water. The air fills with song, ululation and prayers. It is deeply symbolic and marked by traditional clothing, colors, ritual, music, and public gathering. The festival is both cultural and spiritual. Because it is a major occasion, many people use it as an opportunity to express identity, pride, and artistry — especially in garments and fashion.

2025: Women’s Fashion at Irreecha — What’s Trending

While sources don’t provide a full “Irreecha fashion report” yet for 2025, looking at global fashion trends and what is observed locally, one can identify some patterns in how women are dressing for Irreecha this year. Below are some of the emerging themes:

1. Cultural Prints & Symbolic Motifs

 • Women are increasingly combining traditional Oromo patterns, beadwork, weaving, and motifs with modern cuts. Fabrics with symbolic designs (colors and motifs associated with Oromo heritage), sometimes hand-woven or using locally crafted textile additions, are prominent.

 • Embroidery and hand adornment (on hems, collars, sleeves) are used to add a personal touch. This reflects pride and a connection to local artisanship.

2. Blending Tradition with Modern Silhouettes

 • Traditional garb (shawls, wraps, dresses) continues to be central, but many women are choosing more modern silhouettes: dresses with asymmetrical hems, fitted bodices, or tailored cuts. This retains tradition while embracing personal style or perhaps urban influences.

 • The layering of traditional shawls or wraps over modern dresses, or combining shawl elements with contemporary tops, is also seen.

3. Colour Palettes with Meaning

 • Vibrant colours remain strong — golds, reds, greens, and earth tones (deep browns, ochres) are common. These echo both natural elements and cultural symbolism.

 • Contrasts are frequent: bright accent colours against more muted or neutral bases. Perhaps a neutral dress with brightly coloured shawl / accessory, or vice versa.

4. Textiles, Fabrics, and Materials

 • Natural fabrics are popular: cotton, linen, perhaps lighter hand-woven materials — breathable, suited to the outdoor setting of many Irreecha celebrations.

 • Some inclusion of lighter sheer fabrics for layering; some women mix in silk or semi-silk materials for elegance (especially for the evening events).

5. Accessories & Decoration

 • Head adornments, jewelry (necklaces, earrings), beaded work are very visible. Sometimes braided hair with beads or decorative elements plays into the full look.

 • Footwear tends to balance practicality (for walking or participating in processions) and style: elegant yet comfortable sandals, shoes suited to outdoor terrain, or stylish boots depending on location and weather.

6. Sustainable / Local Craft Emphasis

 • A growing trend is consciously choosing locally made, artisanal pieces: woven shawls, hand-made accessories.

 • Some women choose pieces made by local tailors who understand cultural cuts, reducing reliance on imported fabrics or mass-manufactured goods.

7. Adapted Modesty and Comfort

 • Because Irreecha involves being outside, often walking, singing, gathering, many women choose styles that balance modesty (which is important to many attendees) with functionality. Loose fits, breathable cuts, layered outfits.

 • Some mid-length dresses, or dresses with sleeves; some opt for skirts/pants that allow movement; durable fabrics.

What This Means for Identity & Style

The fashion at Irreecha in 2025 for women isn’t just aesthetic — it reflects deeper currents:

  • Cultural affirmation: choosing traditional motifs, colours, and handcraft expresses pride and connection with Oromo identity, especially for younger generations who may live in urban settings or abroad.

  • Intergenerational blending: older women’s styles (more traditional, conservative) are often merged with younger women’s taste for modernity. This creates visual richness and allows different age groups to feel included.

  • Fashion as statement: The clothes women choose make statements about belonging, values (e.g. honouring heritage, supporting local artisans, sustainability), and aesthetics.

  • Adaptiveness: Because Irreecha is outdoors, often with variable weather, walking, sometimes muddy terrain, style also needs practicality, not just show. So fashion here embraces comfort, ease, movement.

Looking Forward

For future Irreecha festivals, one might expect:

  • Even more designers (local or diaspora) interpreting Oromo styles in haute fashion / runway-friendly ways.

  • More makeup of festival couture — pieces made specifically for Irreecha, blending art, performance, style.

  • More cross-regional influence: what’s trending in Addis, Oromia towns, among Oromo diaspora in other countries feeding back into what’s worn locally.

  • Greater attention on sustainable fashion: natural dyes, recycled materials, zero-waste tailoring.

In Conclusion

Irreecha 2025 was more than a celebration of gratitude — it became a living runway of culture, pride, and womanhood. it ties together culture, identity, and women’s empowerment beautifully. Across Oromia and beyond, women used fashion not only to express beauty, but also to honor heritage, creativity, and resilience. Each shawl, braid, and bead told a story of identity — one that bridges generations and redefines what it means to be proudly Oromo in a modern world. As colors shimmered beneath the autumn sun, Irreecha proved once again that fashion is not just about what we wear, but about who we are, where we come from, and how we choose to carry our traditions forward.