{{short description|Ethiopian fashion designer and entrepreneur}} {{use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Mahlet Afework | citizenship = Ethiopian | occupation = Fashion designer and entrepreneur | known_for = Mafi MAfi }} '''Mahlet "Mafi" Afework''' is an Ethiopian fashion designer and entrepreneur. She is known for her fashion label '''Mafi MAfi'''.
== Early years and education == Mahlet Afework was supposed to study nursing for two years. But in the middle of her studies, she quit to study Fashion.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2015/04/01/singer-seamstress-survivor/|title=Singer. Seamstress. Survivor.|last=Africa|first=Forbes Woman|date=2015-04-01|website=Forbes Africa|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref>
== 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.''<ref name=":2" /> Through Google and YouTube videos, she learned fashion.<ref name=":0"/>
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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://daughtersofafricablog.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/ethiopian-fashion-designer-mahlet-afework-mafi/|title=Ethiopian Fashion Designer Mahlet Afework "Mafi"|last=daughtersofafricablog|date=2019-01-22|website=Daughters Of Africa|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.industrieafrica.com/designer/Mafi-Mafi|title=Mafi Mafi - Ethiopia {{!}} Industrie Africa|website=www.industrieafrica.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231115251/https://www.industrieafrica.com/designer/Mafi-Mafi|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=mm>{{cite web | title=Story | website=Mafi Mafi | url=https://www.mafimafiet.com/about | access-date=19 July 2025}}</ref> She has collaborated with cult UK designer Markus Lupfer and has exhibited at the London College of Fashion, European Fashion Day in Addis, and Africa Fashion Week New York.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/africa-fashion-week-ethiopian-fabrics/index.html|title=Africa Fashion week: The little town rocking the catwalk|first=Pete |last=Kowalczyk|date=2015-10-21|website=CNN Style|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/africa/ethiopia/articles/10-top-fashion-designers-to-know-from-ethiopia/|title=10 Top Fashion Designers to Know from Ethiopia|last=Tafesse|first=Serkalem|website=Culture Trip|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231115250/https://theculturetrip.com/africa/ethiopia/articles/10-top-fashion-designers-to-know-from-ethiopia/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2014, she gave a TED Talk about Ancient tradition and modern fashion.<ref>{{Citation|title=Ancient tradition / modern fashion {{!}} Mahlet Afework {{!}} TEDxPlaceDesNations|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w7dBg9GIL8|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref>
== Awards == * 2010: Winner, Designer of the Year award from Alliance Ethio-Française at European Fashion Day in Addis Ababa<ref name=":0" /> * 2012: Winner, Origin Africa's design award at African Fashion Week New York 2012<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> * 2017: Winner, Creative Futures award<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite web | last=Katunga | first=Faith | title=Why Creative Futures Is What You Should Be Looking Forward To | website=Fashion Africa 254 | date=20 September 2017 | url=https://www.fa254.com/2017/09/20/creative-futures-looking-forward/ | access-date=19 July 2025}}</ref>
== Personal life == {{as of|2018}} Afework is married.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.soderetube.com/2018/02/ethiopian-fashion-designer-mahlet-afework-mafi-wedding-video/|title=» Ethiopian fashion designer Mahlet Afework (Mafi) wedding video|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-31|archive-date=31 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231120754/https://www.soderetube.com/2018/02/ethiopian-fashion-designer-mahlet-afework-mafi-wedding-video/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.mafimafiet.com/|Mafi Mafi}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Afework, Mahlet}} Category:Living people Category:Ethiopian women fashion designers Category:Ethiopian fashion designers Category:Ethiopian businesswomen Category:Year of birth missing (living people)