Mahlet Afework Explained

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. 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.^[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.^[5]

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

Awards

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

Personal life

She is married.^[6]

Notes and References

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