# Mahlet Afework

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**Mahlet "Mafi" Afework** is an Ethiopian [fashion designer](/source/Fashion_designer) and [entrepreneur](/source/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.[1]

## 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](/source/Addis_Ababa), to record an album, she was also given the opportunity to design clothes for his music video, *Jossy In Z House.*[1] Through Google and [YouTube](/source/YouTube) videos, she learned fashion.[2]

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.[2][3][4] She has collaborated with cult UK designer [Markus Lupfer](/source/Markus_Lupfer) and has exhibited at the [London College of Fashion](/source/London_College_of_Fashion), European Fashion Day in Addis, and Africa Fashion Week New York.[5][6]

In 2014, she gave a [TED Talk](/source/TED_(conference)) about Ancient tradition and modern fashion.[7]

## Awards

- 2010: Winner, Designer of the Year award from Alliance Ethio-Française at European Fashion Day in Addis Ababa[2]
- 2012: Winner, Origin Africa's design award at African Fashion Week New York 2012[2][6]
- 2017: Winner, [Creative Futures](/source/Creative_Futures_(Ethiopia)) award[6][8]

## Personal life

As of 2018 Afework is married.[9]

## References

1. Africa, Forbes Woman (2015-04-01). ["Singer. Seamstress. Survivor."](https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2015/04/01/singer-seamstress-survivor/). *Forbes Africa*. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

1. daughtersofafricablog (2019-01-22). ["Ethiopian Fashion Designer Mahlet Afework "Mafi""](https://daughtersofafricablog.wordpress.com/2019/01/22/ethiopian-fashion-designer-mahlet-afework-mafi/). *Daughters Of Africa*. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

1. ["Mafi Mafi - Ethiopia | Industrie Africa"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191231115251/https://www.industrieafrica.com/designer/Mafi-Mafi). *www.industrieafrica.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.industrieafrica.com/designer/Mafi-Mafi) on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

1. ["Story"](https://www.mafimafiet.com/about). *Mafi Mafi*. Retrieved 19 July 2025.

1. Kowalczyk, Pete (2015-10-21). ["Africa Fashion week: The little town rocking the catwalk"](https://www.cnn.com/style/article/africa-fashion-week-ethiopian-fabrics/index.html). *CNN Style*. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

1. Tafesse, Serkalem. ["10 Top Fashion Designers to Know from Ethiopia"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191231115250/https://theculturetrip.com/africa/ethiopia/articles/10-top-fashion-designers-to-know-from-ethiopia/). *Culture Trip*. Archived from [the original](https://theculturetrip.com/africa/ethiopia/articles/10-top-fashion-designers-to-know-from-ethiopia/) on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

1. ["Ancient tradition / modern fashion | Mahlet Afework | TEDxPlaceDesNations"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w7dBg9GIL8), retrieved 2019-12-31

1. Katunga, Faith (20 September 2017). ["Why Creative Futures Is What You Should Be Looking Forward To"](https://www.fa254.com/2017/09/20/creative-futures-looking-forward/). *Fashion Africa 254*. Retrieved 19 July 2025.

1. ["» Ethiopian fashion designer Mahlet Afework (Mafi) wedding video"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191231120754/https://www.soderetube.com/2018/02/ethiopian-fashion-designer-mahlet-afework-mafi-wedding-video/). Archived from [the original](https://www.soderetube.com/2018/02/ethiopian-fashion-designer-mahlet-afework-mafi-wedding-video/) on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-31.

## External links

- [Mafi Mafi](https://www.mafimafiet.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mahlet Afework](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlet_Afework) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahlet_Afework?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.