The maiden Black Star Fashion Week concluded with the Presidential Runway at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo, Ghana, on November 7. The event brought together leading fashion designers, creative industry personalities, musicians, and fashion enthusiasts to celebrate Ghanaian design, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage. Established and emerging designers showcased their collections, including Abrantie the Gentleman, Boyedoe, and Kenneth Tetteh. The event aimed to position Ghana as a leading destination for fashion and creative enterprise.
The Presidential Runway featured a diverse range of designers, including those from the 16-Region Designer Programme. Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, Rex Owusu Marfo, welcomed guests and challenged Ghanaian designers to improve their craft, invest in professional development, and approach fashion as a serious commercial enterprise. He emphasized the need for designers to focus on the business side of the industry, including brand development, quality, production, marketing, and commercial sustainability.
Keynote speaker Kwasi Kyei Darkwah called for stronger support for Ghanaian designers and a more structured approach to developing the fashion industry. He advocated for specialization, higher professional standards, and greater investment across the fashion value chain. Darkwah stressed that the industry's growth would depend on practitioners developing expertise, delivering quality, and operating within internationally competitive standards.
The event paid tribute to seven Ghanaian fashion icons and industry pioneers who have shaped the country's fashion identity. Honorees included Madam Joyce Ababio, recognized for integrating Kente into everyday clothing and her contribution to fashion education. Kofi Ansah was celebrated as a pioneer of African couture, while Juliana Miranda Norley Kweifio-Okai was honored for founding Chez Julie and pioneering a blend of African dress and international influences.
Other honorees included Ricci Osei, remembered for his innovative approach to connecting fashion with art, music, and culture; Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto, recognized for his influence on hiplife fashion and Ghanaian streetwear; Nora Bannerman-Abbott, celebrated for her entrepreneurial leadership of Sleek Garments Export Limited; and Tetteh Adzedu, founder of Adzedu of Shapes, whose work brought African menswear and traditional textiles into contemporary design.
The event also featured performances by Ghanaian musicians Okyeame Kwame and Lamisi, adding an exciting entertainment dimension to the runway experience. Their performances complemented the fashion presentations, creating an atmosphere that celebrated the relationship between Ghanaian music, fashion, culture, and contemporary creative expression.
The Presidential Runway represented the culmination of the maiden Black Star Fashion Week, which began with the Black Star Fashion Summit in Accra on November 4. The initiative seeks to strengthen Ghana's fashion ecosystem, promote local designers, encourage investment, and create greater international visibility for Ghanaian fashion. The event reinforced the importance of Ghanaian fashion evolving into a stronger, more structured, and commercially sustainable industry.
Key points
- The Black Star Fashion Week provided a platform for established and emerging Ghanaian designers to showcase their creativity and reinforce Ghana's ambition to become a leading destination for fashion and creative enterprise.
