Touches of heritage, glamour as Black Star Fashion Week dazzles at Royal Senchi

Ghanaian identity came alive through fabric, colour and craftsmanship as Black Star Fashion Week’s Presidential Runway transformed the Royal Senchi Hotel into a spectacular showcase of fashion, heritage and homegrown creativity.

The event offered a prestigious platform for established and emerging Ghanaian designers to display their collections while advancing efforts to position Ghana as a leading destination for fashion, creativity and enterprise.

Taking their creations to the runway were some of the country’s notable designers, including Abrantie the Gentleman, Boyedoe, Kenneth Tetteh, Chocolate, Atto Tetteh, Quofi Akotuah, Nessa Atelier, BloombyEdzi and Adjeponmaa, alongside emerging talents from the 16-Region Designer Programme.

Welcoming guests, Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, Rex Owusu Marfo, popularly known as Rex Omar, challenged Ghanaian designers to continuously refine their craft, invest in professional development and approach fashion as a viable commercial enterprise.

He urged practitioners to look beyond the creative aspects of their work and pay greater attention to the business side of the industry, particularly brand development, quality assurance, production, marketing and commercial sustainability.

He noted that Ghanaian fashion had enormous potential but required deliberate efforts by industry players to build competitive businesses capable of thriving locally and internationally.

Delivering the keynote address, celebrated broadcaster Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD) called for stronger support for local designers and a more structured approach to developing the fashion industry.

He advocated specialisation, higher professional standards and greater investment across the fashion value chain, stressing that the industry’s growth would depend on practitioners building expertise, delivering quality and meeting internationally competitive standards.

KKD also highlighted the economic opportunities within the fashion sector, noting its potential to generate employment, stimulate tourism and create business opportunities across manufacturing, textiles, retail and related industries.

One of the evening’s most memorable moments was a special tribute to seven Ghanaian fashion icons and industry pioneers whose creativity, entrepreneurship and influence have helped shape the country’s fashion identity.

The recognition celebrated both living and departed personalities, acknowledging their contributions to indigenous textiles, African couture, contemporary design, fashion education and the development of Ghana’s garment industry.

Among the honourees was Madam Joyce Ababio, celebrated for incorporating Kente into everyday clothing and her outstanding contribution to fashion education. In 1995, she became the first Ghanaian designer to win Best Formal Evening Wear at Miss World. She has also dressed successive First Ladies since 1992 and founded the JACCD Design Institute Africa.

The late Kofi Ansah was honoured posthumously for his pioneering contribution to African couture. His exceptional designs helped project Ghanaian fashion onto the international stage, leaving a lasting legacy of creativity and craftsmanship.

Also honoured posthumously was Juliana Miranda Norley Kweifio-Okai, founder of Chez Julie, established in 1960. She was recognised for pioneering a distinctive blend of African dressing and international influences, while her entrepreneurial journey opened doors for women in business.

Ricci Osei was similarly remembered posthumously for his St Ossei and BRASS labels and his innovative approach to connecting fashion with art, music and culture, broadening the creative possibilities of Ghanaian fashion.

Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto was recognised for establishing the Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto, MAWULI and MKO.GH labels. His influence on hiplife fashion and Ghanaian streetwear helped shape a distinctive visual identity for a generation of young people.

Nora Bannerman-Abbott was celebrated for her entrepreneurial leadership of Sleek Garments Export Limited and her contribution to Ghana’s garment industry, particularly in manufacturing, entrepreneurship and export development.

Completing the list was Tetteh Adzedu, founder of Adzedu of Shapes, whose work brought African menswear and traditional textiles into contemporary design. His international recognition includes the 1998 Principal Prince Claus Award and his selection for a UNESCO event in Paris.

The tribute was a poignant reminder that Ghana’s fashion industry has been built on decades of innovation, courage, entrepreneurship and cultural expression. It also underscored the importance of documenting the contributions of pioneers whose achievements continue to inspire emerging designers.

Fashion and music also shared the spotlight, with celebrated Ghanaian musicians Okyeame Kwame and Lamisi delivering performances that added an exciting entertainment dimension to the evening.

Their performances complemented the runway presentations, celebrating the connection between Ghanaian music, fashion, culture and contemporary creative expression.

The Presidential Runway marked the culmination of the maiden Black Star Fashion Week, which began with the Black Star Fashion Summit in Accra on November 4.

Held under the broader PUT GHANA ON campaign, the initiative seeks to strengthen Ghana’s fashion ecosystem, promote local designers, encourage investment and create greater international visibility for the country’s fashion industry.

Beyond the glamour and creativity on display, the event delivered a broader message about the future of Ghanaian fashion: the need to build a more structured, professionally driven and commercially sustainable industry that draws strength from the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Through the Black Star Experience, Ghana continues to explore opportunities to connect fashion, culture, tourism and economic development while showcasing its creative potential to the world.