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| Top Ghanaian Fashion Brands for 2015 |
Also, alot
has happened within the fashion scene in Ghana for the year 2015. We have seen
some new brands making in roads onto the fashion scene, while a few existing
ones are also still pushing harder their PR and social media buttons to still
stay relevant and for some others I can only say they are fading off.
The
year has also seen events such as the Fashion Icons Awards 2015, the launch of
Glitz Style Awards and Afroma Awards, and also the returned Ghana Fashion
Awards.
Fashion
Weeks and shows such as the Ghana Fashion and Design Week, Mercedes Benz Africa
Fashion Festival, Expressions of Accra, FashionistaGH shopping festival amongst
others also gave designers the opportunity to exhibit their collections.
Here
are my top 10 Ghanaian Fashion brands(in no particular order) that have created brands that transcended
barriers and borders and have pushed the PR button a little real hard in 2015 through each collection, photography for their lookbooks,
social media, websites, nominations and awards, fashion shows,
celebrity placements and features and the media buzz that comes with it.
These very
little things communicate what their brands have been doing all year
through thus gaining industry and media attention:
1.
Totally Ethnik
Totally
Ethnik started their year with a feature on the front cover of Glitz Africa
Magazine when they provided oufit to style the cover girl Joselyn Dumas. Their
2015 collections; Feline and Ebene were really impressive and had lots of media
attention and buzz from fashion bloggers across the globe.
The
team also participated in Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion Festival, Accra, Salon
Boucle d'EBene in Paris, Ghana Fashion and Design Week, Ethnodence Fashion
Weekend in Belgium, Black Fashion Week in Paris and Africa International
Fashion Week in Nigeria.
The
brand won Emerging Designer of the Year at the Afroma 2015 Awards prior to that
was also nominated at the Glitz Style Awards, Ghana Fashion Awards.
Celebrities
such as Lydia Forson, Caroline Sampson, Victoria Michaels, Christabel Ekeh and
Afua Rida have all been seen in Totally Ethnik outfits.
With
all these in a year, we can only get excited for this brand in the coming
years.
2. Selina Beb
Selina beb
is a Ghanaian fashion brand that specializes in quality handbags and clutch
purses. These are made from genuine leather and African prints.
This
year, the brand participated in a number fashion shows. Notable among them is
her participation at the Africa Fashion Week London as the only Ghanaian
Fashion Accessory designer for 2015,
Guba Expo 2015, Expressions of Accra and have also exhibited at almost all
fashion exhibitions held within the year.
Selinabeb
also emerged as the Accessory Designer of the year at the Glitz Style Awards
and was nominated at the Ghana Fashion Awards.
2016
could only get better for this amazing brand.
3.
Abrantie Clothing
This
year has been the best year so far for the Abrantie brand. Having won 3 awards
in 2015, Oheneba Yaw Boamah can only be smiling all year through.
The
brand started the year with the Alewa SS2015, then the Checkables Collection
and crowned the year with the Sahara Collection.
Abrantie
Clothing won the Next Rated Designer of the Year at the Fashion Icons Awards
2015, Designer of the Year at the Glitz Style Awards 2015, Designer of the Year
at Afroma Awards 2015 and nominated at the Ghana Fashion Awards.
The
brand also participated in the Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion Festival, Accra
Durban
Fashion Fair, South Africa 2015 and Milan Expo 2015, Italy.
Lets
get ready to ramble in the Abrantie way in 2016.
4.
Pistis GH
Pistis has managed to still pitch its tent at the top in the 2015. You are most likely
to find a celebrity on the red carpet at most big events wearing a Pistis.
This
gave them the recognition hence winning the Red Carpet Designer of the Year at
the Glitz Style Awards and Fashion Design Brand of the Year at the Ghana
Fashion Awards.
Another
interesting space that this brand has captured is the making of traditional
gowns for brides during their marriage ceremony. The statement made with their designs fused
with Kente and sometimes lace are colorful and very unique .
5.
Papa Oppong
Papa Oppong Bediako popularly known as Papa Oppong is a fashion designer, illustrator and a graduate from Radford University College.
Papa
is known for illustrating a lot of celebrities in Ghana and beyond; among them
is Amber Rose, Rihanna, Ty Hunter, Yvonne Nelson, Lupita Nyong’o and many
others.
This
young chap was featured earlier this year on Forbes as “The 15 Young African
Creatives Rebranding Africa” 2015 list, featured on CNN African Voices,
collaborated with the bespoke Jewelry curator Anita Quansah London for her SS
Tribe Vibe Collection.
He
also worked with other brands such as cosmetics giant MAC and Dutch wax fabric
company Vlisco. He attended "Designer Meet and Greet in DC"in
November.
There
is a lot more we are looking forward to from the Papa Oppong brand come 2016.
6.
Christie Brown
The
brand Christie Brown, has become a household name. The brand has managed to
still keep their brand top of mind all throughout 2015.
Earlier
in the year, they launched their SS15 Collection and crowned the year with the
Coup de Class Capsule which was extravagant and got a lot of fashion eyes
turning.
The
Christie Brown statement neckpiece has been there all through the year and have
also provided outfits for celebrities and graced some media platforms.
7.AAKS
Handcrafted
A.A.K.S
was only launched earlier this year but the brand has caught the hearts of many
fashion enthusiats with its colorful handcrafted bags.
Established
by Ghanaian Designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, the brand has already been
shortlisted as emerging designer from Africa by Vogue Italia, featured by Elle
South Africa, Elle Spain, Anthropologie,
participated in IED Moda graduate show in Millan and also featured in the
Guardian as .
The
brand is a force to reckon with going into 2016.
8.Poqua
Poqu
PoquaPoqu is a luxury Pret a Porter women fashion brand. This brand is working real
hard in keeping its place as a ready to wear brand for the everyday woman, be
it casual, chic or sophisticated.
Starting
the year with its all white "ASEDA" Collection that looked really
gorgeous and then managed to keep the pace by participating in several trade
shows and fashion events such as designing an outfit during the launch of the Lux new fragrances.
9.
Alinafe
The
interesting and exciting thing about this brand is that, it gained 3
nominations in 2015 at the Fashion Icons Awards, Glitz Style Awards and the
Ghana Fashion Awards thus grabbing the attention of many industry players.
Being
a former Vlisco Fashion Fund Winner, the brand has collaborated with Vlisco on
a number of projects throughout the year. Celebrity musician Irene Logan is
mostly seen in an Alinafe outfit.
10.Lumiere Couture
Lumiere Couture started the year off with the outdooring of its SS15 Lookbook called Identity. This was followed by their participation at the Africa Fashion Week, Nigeria
The brand also received some media buzz after it was nominated and won Emerging Designer of the Year at the Glitz Style Awards and was also nominated at the Ghana Fashion Awards 2015 and Afroma Awards. They as well designed an outfit for one of the Lux fragrances during the Lux launch.
They ended the year with the Resort 2015 Collection.
My Expectations of 2016
Going
into 2016, I see a new crop of young talents springing up and gaining much media attention.
I expect designers to invest
in their brand, create unique brand identity, invest in Public Relations to promote their work and help shape their brand image.
I hope to see originality, creativity and pure passion for fashion and am sure i will be seeing you again by
the end of 2016. Prosperous 2016!
By:
Faith Senam Ocloo Fashion Public Relations
Fashion I Beauty I Lifestyle I Arts
