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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 bebis 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.Swas 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
