Mafi Mafi

Founded in 2011 by Mahlet Afework, Mafi Mafi is a fashion brand meets social enterprise that incorporates traditional Ethiopian fabrics and techniques into its contemporary design aesthetic. After pursuing a career in modeling and music, Afework turned to fashion, studying the craft using Google and YouTube videos. While the brand employs skilled female weavers in Ethiopia, in a previous TED Talk, Afework explained that Ethiopian fashion is not just about paying homage to its ancestors, but also about creating sustainable jobs for her local community: "In Ethiopia we have more than 500 underemployed female weavers in each village. We have a responsibility to give them a job—and then show their work to the world.” For Afework, her home and her heritage are the driving force behind her creations. "Every season I try to tell these stories with my collections - I try to learn more about Ethiopia and its beautiful culture," she said, speaking to CNN. "It's where we come from, it's in our blood.”

Afework was raised in Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa, where she opened her flagship boutique in 2011. She’s since become a celebrity favorite within Ethiopia and abroad; her designs are admired for their fusion of traditional Ethiopian textiles and modern, empowering silhouettes. She has garnered recognition from the regional fashion community, winning the Creative Futures award in 2017 and Origin Africa’s Design Award in 2012. She was also profiled by Forbes Africa where she was dubbed one of Africa’s most exciting emerging designers of 2015.