The Late Kofi Ansah inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame |
I
had the opportunity to attend the 2015 Institute of Public Relations (IPR),
Ghana Excellence Awards and also the 2015 Ghana Fashion Awards event last
weekend.
How these two events got to be on the same weekend I could not fathom
with. Both events happened on Friday and Saturday respectively.
The
exciting thing is that these 2 events represent the 2 industries I am
passionate about.
As
a Public Relations professional, my specialty is in the fashion, beauty and
lifestyle industry; Fashion PR Professional.
Fashion
PR focuses on managing brand positioning and developing brand awareness.
Some members of IPR Ghana |
The IPR Awards
The
IPR awards, organized to reward
outstanding performances of Public relations practitioners and organizations held
its 4th Excellence Awards and 8th Presidential dinner
dance for members at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
I
got there just as the main event was about to start. With this profession as
old as it is, I expected to see a lot of people especially the young ones. I think the institute should find a way to
absorb many of the young PR practitioners to become active in the institutes
activities.
The
night was climaxed with the PR Personality of the Year and PR Discovery of the
Year titles conferred on Dr. Joyce Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light
Ministry and Gifty Bingley, Director of Corporate Communications &
Responsibility at Tigo Ghana respectively.
I
am proud to see these women soaring greater heights. They are an inspiration to
many of us.
.
JOT and Vanessa Gyan, presentors at Ghana Fashion Awards |
Ghana Fashion Awards
To my second love; Fashion. The fashion industry in Ghana has received some recognition in recent times. Awards events are being organized to encourage and recognize hard work and creativity. The Ghana Fashion Awards 2015 was just timely.
The night started off with a cocktail and networking session at 7pm to 8:30pm at the World Trade Center. Though it was scheduled to start was 8:00pm, we started 30 mins late which isn’t bad looking at our expectations influenced by our experiences at similar events.
Hosted by media personality and e.TV Ghana’s JOT and Vanessa Gyan , students from Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design and BlueCrest College thrilled guests with some refreshing designs on the runway and performances by Nana Yaa and Adomaa
After
all the fun, Pistis took home the plaque as the Fashion Designer
Brand of the Year and She by Bena was the Emerging Fashion Design Brand of the
Year. With some nominees disappointed about the outcome, I could only say that
they need get their PR game on next year and could be the winner.
As a judge for the Ghana Fashion Awards, one thing that was evident was that designers need to step up their game in creating a fashion brand identity as well as create brands that challenge the status quo and have strong business modules worth emulating.
As a judge for the Ghana Fashion Awards, one thing that was evident was that designers need to step up their game in creating a fashion brand identity as well as create brands that challenge the status quo and have strong business modules worth emulating.
The Convergence
The
IPR and Ghana Fashion Awards are both young in existence hence the need for
both institutions to work hard to gain credibility and reputation of members
and industry people.
Having
attended these events, the importance of PR in fashion and to any business is
unquestionable.
The
role of public relations in the fashion industry is to put the face of clients
and businesses by generating buzz about the brand to fashion bloggers, celebrities
and the public. Fashion businesses need carefully planned PR campaigns to
become successful brands.
Faith Senam OclooSadat, myself and Paa Kwesi just before the event started at the IPR Awards |
Catherine, myself and Priscilla at the Ghana Fashion Awards |
Juana and myself at the Ghana Fashion Awards Night |
Nana Yaa performing |
Adomaa in performance |
Fashion Public Relations
Fashion I Beauty I Lifestyle I Arts