ACCRA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian cultural heritage, music, and dance, alongside eye-catching designs displayed at the presidential runway, marked the culmination of Black Star Fashion Week on Saturday night in Akosombo, Ghana's Eastern Region.
The event brought together traditional rulers, government officials, industry players, and international partners to explore opportunities for growth, investment, and international collaboration.
The audience was captivated as models took to the presidential runway one after another, showcasing the creativity, talent, and artistry of top-notch Ghanaian designers.
Speaking at the event, Rex Owusu Marfo, coordinator of the Black Star Experience Secretariat, said the fashion week aimed to raise Ghana's profile in the global fashion industry.
"We have come to Akosombo deliberately. Our vision is simple yet very powerful. We are not in the conventional city hall; instead, we are in this serene, well-resourced area to showcase the beauty of Ghana beyond our capitals and to position Akosombo as a premium tourist destination," he said.
George Tetteh, a designer with the Atto Tetteh brand, highlighted the inspiration behind his work and called for greater efforts by stakeholders to bring Ghanaian fashion to the global stage.
"A lot of things go into a creative process, but predominantly it is our heritage, our culture, and then also fashion trends and everything that comes together for a creative to make a collection," Tetteh said. "Ghana has to make it an intentional effort and investment and then also create avenues like this for us to be able to show our work."
Titus Nartey Doku, a fashion designer who transforms used clothes into trendy designs, also stressed the significance of concerted efforts to help local designers reach international audiences.
"It's a lot of work that needs to be done, and then it can be done. We need to go to our own local textile industry," He said. "We need the media, and we need buyers. We need the government involved in trying to push the designers out there, outside the shores of Ghana." ■
