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]