Mahlet Afework

Mahlet Afework is an Ethiopian fashion designer and entrepreneur.[1][2]

Early years and education

Afework was supposed to study nursing for two years. But in the middle of her studies, she quit to study Fashion.[3]

Career

Afework began her career at age 16 as a model and musician. While in grade 9, she took interest in rap music and released a single titled Shalom Africa. Aside getting a deal from Yosef Gebre Jossy, a famous recording artiste in Addis Ababa, to record an album, she was also given the opportunity to design clothes for his music video, Jossy In Z House.[3] Through Google and youtube videos, she learned Fashion. In 2011, she founded Mafi Mafi, an Ethiopian fashion label. She uses hand-woven fabrics made by women from Ethiopia's rural areas to create clothing and accessories.[1][4] She has collaborated with cult UK designer Markus Lupfer and has exhibited at London college of fashion, European Fashion Day in Addis and Africa Fashion Week New York.[2][5]

In 2014, she gave a TED Talk about Ancient tradition and modern fashion.[6]

Awards
  • 2010 - She won the Designer of the Year award from Alliance Ethio-Française at European Fashion Day in Addis[1]
  • 2012 - She won the Origin Africa‘s design award at African Fashion Week New York 2012[1][5]
  • 2017 - She won the Creative Futures award [5]

Personal life

She is married.[7]

References
  1. daughtersofafricablog (2019-01-22). "Ethiopian Fashion Designer Mahlet Afework "Mafi"". Daughters Of Africa. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  2. Kowalczyk, Pete (2015-10-21). "Africa Fashion week: The little town rocking the catwalk". CNN Style. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  3. Africa, Forbes Woman (2015-04-01). "Singer. Seamstress. Survivor". Forbes Africa. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  4. "Mafi Mafi - Ethiopia | Industrie Africa". www.industrieafrica.com. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  5. Tafesse, Serkalem. "10 Top Fashion Designers to Know from Ethiopia". Culture Trip. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  6. Ancient tradition / modern fashion | Mahlet Afework | TEDxPlaceDesNations, retrieved 2019-12-31
  7. "» Ethiopian fashion designer Mahlet Afework (Mafi) wedding video". Retrieved 2019-12-31.
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