Embracing your skin with Nokware Skincare

 

A beautiful skin is a woman’s pride. It radiates beauty and makes one look and feel confident. Keeping a good skin doesn’t come easy as one needs to engage in daily habits to guard the skin and maintain its natural state.

With issues such as discolorations, uneven skin tones, eczema among others staring in the face, one will go every mile in search for a skin care product that will clear all those issues. For many women, it’s such a relief to find that ideal skincare product that works on your skin.

Also in our part of the world, getting people to appreciate and embrace their own skin tones amidst all the challenges of dealing with skin issues is an ongoing discussion as people still think having a lighter skin is preferable and prettier.

On this premise, Nokware Skincare was recently launched for people looking to find a product that is not only natural and organic but one that encourages people especially Africans to embrace their own skin and natural beauty.

Tutuwa Ahwoi, a Ghanaian and Thato Tau, Motswana both founded Nokware Skin care range of products. Nokware translated in Twi as “Truth” is not just your regular skincare range of products. It is 100% organic made from the finest ingredients sourced from sustainable local farms in West Africa.

Sharing their journey on starting Nokware Skincare products, Tutuwa explained that while studying in Paris sometime in 2014 they had problems with their skin but couldn’t find any product that worked. Upon using our very own Sheabutter and Alata Samina their skin began to take shape and fell back to its natural state. This birthed the idea earlier this year to start a Skincare product to cater to the many people who needed a natural and organic product especially for those living abroad.

Few years down the line, Nokware was launched in September and has since then made an impressive entry onto the Ghanaian market and has been received well by many consumers. The more exciting and hearty bit about the brand is its organic product and sustainable beauty packaging which is increasingly appealing to consumers in recent times.

It has Calabash which is the cut and dried fruit of the gourd plant and is recyclable. The Calabash covers are made from natural jute fibres from the jute plant. The raffia is derived from a palm tree native to tropical Africa and the brown paper is made from the unbleached wood pulp and is recyclable. This certainly makes Nokware products as eco-friendly as possible.

Currently being sold via online and in shops such as Elle Lokko and Juben House of Beauty and Healthy Shops in Labadi as well as some major outlets in Botswana, plans are also underway to begin selling in Nigeria and other African countries.

Tutuwa stated that “Nokware is made for anyone with skin, babies, children, men, women as there is a product for each skin category be it oily skin, dry skin but not for anyone looking to have a lighter skin tone”

Nokware beauty soup product offering comes in four (4) variants namely the Original African Black Soap, Neem Oil Black Soap, Activated Charcoal Black Soap and Shea & Baobab Oil Black Soap all of which are handmade and sourced locally. Other additions introduced include the organic Loofah Body Exfoliator and Sponges which makes bath equally an eco-friendly experience.

As a young brand, challenges are inevitable as Tutuwa mentioned trading among other African countries as one of the hurdles they have had to cross so far. She said “our biggest challenge is getting the product out of Ghana to other countries in Africa where unlike the EU countries, it’s easier to trade among each other; it is very difficult to do same here in Africa”.

She added that Social media has played a significant role since their launch as many orders and purchases were made via their Instagram account.

In the next coming years, Tutuwa discloses that there will be new more additions such as the Sheabutter to the range of products while working to make Nokware a global brand. At the core of this is for Nokware Skincare to be available for anyone looking for a natural and organic product that appreciates and embraces ones’ own skin color.

Founders (Tutuwa & Thato)

Nokware Skincare

This post originally appeared on my column in the Business and Financial Times Newspaper on November 17, 2017

Faith Senam Ocloo 

Fashion Public Relations 

Fashion I Beauty I Lifestyle I Arts

Menswear: Seen the 'Son of Gold' Collection by Atto Tetteh?

Accra based menswear brand ATTO TETTEH has launched its latest collection “Son of Gold Coast’ as a tribute to Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Otumfuo Opoku Ware II both very important figures in Ghanaian history.

The collection ‘Son of Gold Coast’ eulogizes these great men poetically in “We went back to our roots. Gold Coast; the land of Gold and Hopes. From there we sought to be inspired; And Eureka we found; An heir to the throne; An illustrious son, so prominent and astute; He had a unique style that gave him an identity; This style we brewed in our African pot; To create a collection so rich with culture yet very modern; We told the Gold Coast story with Color, warmth and sartorial elegance.”

This collection which was first showcased at the 2017 Glitz Africa Fashion Week few weeks ago received a great applause from the audience for its cultural and historical cohesion for each look all pulled together to tell a story of the Gold Coast man with a modern touch.

The use of colorful floral print, stripes, fugu (handwoven), leather and embroidery on jersey fabric which focused more on color, texture and technique were specially made for the modern African man with knowledge about his own culture and history.  Colors such as emerald green, pink, mustard, black, oatmeal and gold were used to convey a unifying message.

The ATTO TETTEH brand launched in October 2014 was named after the Designer and Creative Director Atto Tetteh. The brand has since then become one of Ghana’s consistent menswear brand. ATTO TETTEH serves as the luxuriating brand which provides men all over the world with quality and trendy clothes with a touch of African culture.

The brand has so far released five (5) collections since its launch with earlier collections such as Atto Tetteh Army, The Artisan, Tohazie (The Red Hunter), Aqua Safari, and Aloo (Woven) all of which garnered the buzz and attention of many fashion lovers.

 “With very carefully selected fabrics and immense attention to detail, we construct clothes that fit and makes THE ATTO TETTEH man exquisite”, Atto Tetteh said.

He added that “Africa has a story yet to be told and that the African man is bold, strong and courageous and has always been known fashionable and color, warmth, energy, sophistication and sartorial elegance is our description of this fashion sense.”

With a strong design aesthetic which is largely inspired by his African culture and environment, Atto Tetteh passionately tells the African story through the making of elegant and sophisticated clothing, carefully and meticulously constructed for the ATTO TETTEH client.

At the core of ATTO TETTEH is the creation of Timeless and Original pieces with the utmost Quality that pleases many of its clients. These carefully selected ethos guides their activities, products and services, and most especially in their relationship with customers. It’s upon these pillars that the ATTO TETTEH brand is built.

With a strong foundation on good customer relations and a vivid understanding of men’s fashion for the modern African, ATTO TETTEH is certainly becoming one of the favorite menswear brand in Ghana.

 These pieces are available on their website and social media page for purchase. You know you got to own one. Contact +233 546638335 or email info@attotetteh.com

Website: www.attotetteh.com Facebook: Atto Tetteh Twitter: @attotetteh Instagram: @attotetteh

Faith Senam Ocloo 
Fashion Public Relations 
Fashion I Beauty I Lifestyle I Arts

5 Emerging Ghanaian Fashion Brands you should know about

Emerging designers always have a way of breathing some freshness onto the fashion scene. They bring on board lots of energy and new creative direction that gets us yearning to see what is next for these designers.

Without a doubt there is still a lot of work to be done after you debuted your brand and made quite a great impression on many, the expectations become high and designers can only work harder to keep the momentum alive.  With each year serving us some new entrants of young talented designers, we certainly are looking forward to what their next collections will be and how they will keep being top of mind.

In no particular order, here are my 5 emerging Ghanaian fashion brands who have made great entry onto the scene and ones you should by now know about them too.

Larry Jay Couture

Anyone at Accra Men’s Fashion Week held earlier this year, will affirm that Larry Jay’s collection was one of the best for the entire show. Timeless legacy which happens to be his debut collection introduces clothing and accessories for both men and women. The brand brought some new feeling to urban wear through oversized wax print shirts and fitting pants/joggers, oversized silky tunics, shorts, open front cardigans, shawls, infinity scarves, etc  He also showcased at the 2017 Edition of Style Lounge and the Flower and Garden Fashion Show. This brand is certainly one to look out for in the coming year.

Quophi Akotuah

This designer is becoming a strong one on the Ghanaian fashion scene and obviously have had a great year already having won the Emerging Designer Award at this year’s Glitz Style Awards and nominated for the Creative Designer of the Year at Men’s Fashion Week Nigeria. He has also collaborated with GTP in producing his collections which have been spotted on some top celebrities in Ghana. Quophi Akotuah opened this year’s Glitz Africa Fashion Week held at the Kempinski Hotel. He brings a lot of energy and vibrancy onto the fashion scene, one which has caught our eyes and interest and looking forward to seeing more.

Akua Asante

I fell in love with this brand the first time I saw it. It was full of life and had bold colors and playful look that attracted my interest. Her pieces draws inspiration from her Ghanaian heritage interspersed with influences from cultures across the globe. The bold signature and unique craftsmanship of her pieces coupled with vibrant colors makes her designs stand out. Akua Asante made her debut appearance during her graduate show at the Marangoni Graduate Fashion Show in 2016 and has since then made a great impression with each piece she makes.

Qwame Owusu

Quame Owusu came into prominence in 2015, when he won the much coveted Vlisco Students Awards at Joyce Ababio College of Creative and Design (JACCD). He has since then been working and producing great designs for Vlisco and GTP fashion campaigns. Few months back he was adjudged with the Best African Collection after debuting his Perfect Ashlar collection in GTP Fabrics at the #DFF2017 ramp at the Durban Fashion Fair in South Africa. This designer is certainly one to watch in the coming years.

Lakopue

This young designer has had a good year so far after introducing his debut collection “The Atelier by Lakopue”. A collection which emphasizes on craft and the idea of every profession being an art. Prior to debuting his collection, he has worked with Woodin for some of their fashion campaigns and shows. Lakopue showcased at the recently held Glitz Africa Fashion Week 2017 where he had a presentation alongside other talented designers. As they say, the future is bright for Lakopue and we can only wish him the best.

I wrote this article originally for Debonair Afrik Creative Issue

Faith Senam Ocloo 
Fashion Public Relations 
Fashion I Beauty I Lifestyle I Arts