Fashion
Ghana Fashion: In Accra, Five Designers Are Reinventing Ghanaian Traditions
This season, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Accra forwent live shows, but spotlighted five emerging designers through a special photo series….
Ghanaian fashion is known for its use of vibrant colors and eclectic prints, and nowhere is this joyful approach to dressing more apparent than in Accra, the country’s capital city. The fashion hub is bursting with local artisans and designers, all of whom specialize in reinventing traditional kente or fugu clothes with a modern twist. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Accra has been spotlighting the best of Ghanaian fashion for the past four years, but of course it was postponed this year due to the pandemic. The event has delivered some beautiful textile work in the past, infusing the catwalks with a high dose of energy via tie-dyes, screen-printing, and more—all of which are created ethically and sustainably within the city.
Without the presence of live shows this season, Mercedes-Benz still wanted to spotlight the work of local West African talent. It did so by producing a special photo series, shot by Carlos Idun-Tawiah, that showcases the new collections of five Accra-based designers: Larry Jay, Steve French, Hassan Alfaziz Iddrisu, Atto Tetteh, and Chloe Assam.
These five Ghanaian designers are not to be missed out on, despite the lack of physical shows this season. The through line between these emerging talents? Their distinctive brands all focus on innovating traditional Ghanaian textiles, implementing eco-friendly production methods, and celebrating a sense of pan-Africanism. They all design and create out of Accra, partnering with local creatives there to source their unique textiles. Even though their fabrics are traditional, their designs are anything but—their works take cues from the streetwear movement, modern and abstract art, and even the city of Accra itself, making for collections that are contemporary but infused with a culturally-rooted spirit. As French called his vision below, they’re pushing forward “fashion with a cause.”
Below, meet the five designers who are reinventing Ghanaian traditions.
Stay updated! Click the Google News follow button for more news and updates.
Follow on Google News