BRUCEBUCKS move to wordpress: 2017

This year has been another great one for fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands

Just like each year, there have been new entrants onto the fashion scene and we have also seen an all most ‘no show’ from some of established brands. It was really exciting to see many others thrive to stay top of mind throughout the year.

One game changer for this year has been social media as it continuously play a crucial role for many fashion brands who have been able to build their brand presence online. They have created campaigns and contents that gave them a voice and made them match up to even established brands.

Touching on major happenings in 2017, the challenges and the opportunities as we look forward to a greater and more fulfilling 2018.

Fashion Designers

There were quite some designers who have worked real hard this year to keep their brand visible and grow more reach. The likes of Sima Brew with her stunning Red Carpet Gowns, Ophelia Crossland, West African Ambassador for Swarovski, Christie Brown showcasing at Lagos Fashion and Design Week, Nadrey Laurent rebrand from Totally Ethnik, Afromod Trends showcasing in South Africa, Charlotte Prive, Atto Tetteh, Abrantie the Gentleman winning

Designer of the Year Awards and a host of many others have had a great year as they worked at keeping their brand visibly all year through both online and offline.

This year also saw the return of DuabaSerwa with its Nsubura collection and subsequently showcasing at Glitz Africa Fashion Week 2017.

Without a doubt, the young fashion designers emerging have a lot to offer and I can’t wait to see what they add on in 2018. Designers such as Lakopue, LJ Couture, Qwame Owusu have equally had a great year as they have left quite an impressive impression on our minds.

Fashion Shows and Events

Fashion shows are known to be the biggest events on most fashion calendar anywhere. This year started off with Accra Men’s Fashion Week (AMFW) in May, Mercedes Benz Africa Fashion Festival (MBAFF) in July, Glitz Africa Fashion Week (GAFW) and Accra Fashion Week (AFWk) in October. These events have had their fair share of setbacks in terms of publicity, organization, venue and timing. Nonetheless, they managed to pull through their events successfully as we look forward a more revamped ones in 2018.

The graduate shows couldn’t be left out. Radford University, BlueCrest University, Joyce Ababio Creative College and Design, Riohs Originate and Dreams College of Creative Arts all organized their graduate shows in a grand style this year.

Other events that took place in the course of the year are Fashion Forum Quarterly Series, African Fashion Voices by African Fashion Guide, Jump on Glitz and crowning it with the Vlisco & Co launch at the Untamed Empire.

Fashion Media and Bloggers

The fashion industry couldn’t have survived without fashion media and bloggers as they brought us all we needed to know in the fashion world. From designer Lookbooks, Features, Events, Style tips etc these platforms have continued to curate and bring us daily contents. The likes of Debonair Afrik, TrendsandBlends, AuntieOboshie, Fashion Ghana, YaaSomuah, Ghana fashion marketing amongst others have been constantly on the radar throughout the year.

Hopefully 2018 will bring good fortunes in regards to more collaborations and unique contents, live coverage. Looking forward to a new year full of energy and great contents from these media platforms.

Fashion Awards

Awards are crucial for any organization in business to gain recognition for its products and services and the fashion industry couldn’t be left out of this. Winning awards allows you to distinguish your company/brand from competitors. This year, we witnessed only two (2) awards. The Glitz Style Awards and Afroma Awards.

Hopefully in the coming year, we will see Ghana Fashion Awards bounce back bigger and better or other industry awards that will recognize and reward great talent.

Challenges and next steps

The fashion industry in Ghana still struggles with many issues. First is lack of a body to regulate and support designer’s work and their creativity. No organization has been able to succeed in pulling the various stakeholders under one umbrella. With a fashion council or board, fashion designers and other creatives can begin to work effectively with support from government and other institutions and gain direction to be able to build global brands.

Also, with a fashion calendar which clearly shows which event is on which date, organizers will begin to take note when choosing dates for their event. That way, the incidence of having both GAFW and AFWk on the same weekend won’t occur again.

As we get ready to celebrate the Season and New Year, I wish all B&FT readers a wonderful season. I look forward to a greater 2018 as I bring you more exciting features, personal thoughts and news on “Fashion & More with Faith Senam”

Have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

(Post originally published in my column in the Business & Financial Times Newspaper on 22nd December 2017)

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

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

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

If there is one Ghanaian accessory brand that has transcended the borders of Ghana especially onto the European market, it certainly is Selina Beb. From the fine details of each piece to the quality and choice of fabric used, Selina Beb is definitely a proudly Ghanaian made brand.

Founded and designed by Selina Bebaako-Mensah, Selina Beb brand has grown to become one of the favorites for many fashion lovers and have over the past years proven to be a consistent accessory brand growing steadily to a household brand.

Launched in 2012, the brand is known for its colorful, rich and quality pieces ranging from bags, footwears, jewelry made for women, men and children.

Selina Beb is seen at almost all major fashion and trade events in Ghana and has also participated in many fashion shows in Ghana, London, USA, Italy and beyond.

At the recently held Neskael Corporate Show at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Ms Bebaako-Mensah as usual thrilled attendees when she outdoored her 2018 Collection called the Kente Collection.

With this year’s theme “Celebrating 60 years of rich Ghanaian culture & continuous economic growth through arts” the launch of the SB Kente Collection was timely as it gave the designer the opportunity to re-echo the ‘Kente’ fabric as a key part of our Ghanaian cultural heritage.

According to Ms. Bebaako-Mensah she was inspired to do a Kente collection based on the theme for this year’s Neskael Show. She added “I wanted to do something that is really truly Ghanaian, something that truly represents us as Ghanaians.”

Being an annual event organized by Neskael Travel and Tours, the event is aimed at showcasing Ghana’s cultural heritage and values through fashion.

The multiple award winning accessories designer brand has been recognized globally for making very beautiful African inspired pieces with this time round focusing more on doing something that is truly Ghanaian and one that reveals who we are as a people and she felt what better fabric could she used than our very own Kente.

This collection features the SB Bags in several variants and accessories handmade with the authentic Kente fabric as well as that of the Woodin designed kente fabric.

Selina Beb is a recipient of many awards with the most recent ones won at the Bi-Annual European & International Women Inventors (EIWIIN) Awards in Italy.

Selina Beb aims at making its customers feel like royalty when using their bespoke items. Products are made with genuine leather, high quality African wax prints, rare and unique beads and the best in raw materials that are all carefully handpicked by the designer to ensure the best possible final product.

Being a proudly made in Ghana, Selina Beb Bags, Footwear and Accessories are all made by hand and each item is made with the upmost effort, care and love.

With a blend of rich Ghanaian history and culture coupled with modern and innovative ways of making bespoke pieces, Selina Beb has become the go to for many Ghanaian accessory lovers.

Below are images of the new collection. You can shop these at their store located near PhotoClub, Osu or call 0543459000.

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

Representing Nadrey Laurent at the Instagram Runway Show during the SMWiAccra Week organised by Debonair Afrik

Wow! I can't believe it's almost 2 months since I last made a blogpost here.

You know the biblical saying the "the Spirit is willing but the body is weak" That's exactly what I am going through now. Been trying to pull myself up and keep going.

That said, a few things have still been going on in my life as a Fashion PR Girl.

I still write for the Business and Financial Times paper every Friday. Unfortunately, I don't get to share them on social media like before because I don't get the digital copy like i do. All the same, I hope you make time on Fridays to grab a print copy to read my column "Fashion and More with Faith Senam" as I share some insights on things happening in fashion with you.

Nadrey Laurent will be showcasing at Kampala Fashion Week this coming weekend. This new collection looks fantastic already. Have some few favorites already. And we will be showcasing at Glitz Africa Fashion Week as well. Follow @NadreyLaurent on Instagram and Facebook for all the updates on our shows.

Evangel Magazine Gamma Edition will also be launching early next month 8th October 2017 in partnership with Fountain Gate Chapel. Its theme is centered on "Compassion". How showing compassion to someone could make a difference in ones life. Hope you grab a copy after the launch.

Women in PR Ghanawill also be support the Trust Hospital launch its Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Tuesday 3rd March, 2017 at the Trust Clinic, Adenta Housing Down.

So you see, while things may look cool from the outside, work is still ongoing from the inside.

Thanks for stopping by as I update you on whats been happening in the life of a Ghanaian Fashion PR Girl.

Until my next post, adios

Wearing a Nadrey Laurent Bomber Jacket

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

Few weeks ago, PR Girl Media (Lusaka based PR and Events Company) invited Nadrey Laurent (formerly Totally Ethnik) to showcase at this year’s Lusaka July 2017.

It happened that I had to attend the event as the #PRGirl for Nadrey Laurent.

Love the beauty and energy the girls at PR Girl Media put into their event and really doff my hat to them.

The event was a sold out one. Zambian fashionista’s came out and did a massive appearance on the red carpet. They didn’t come to play at all. Good fashion sense with great fashion show, loads of food and drinks.

This year’s event which was themed “African Luxury” really lived up to expectations with Special Guest appearance from Boity Thulo, South African fashion icon and media personality. From the red carpet appearances to the food, and drinks had the best of what a luxury event could offer. For the girls at PR Girl Media, they wanted nothing less than giving the guests an experience of luxury.

These socialites and A-listers, influences and celebrities showed up looking glamorous in their best outfits and also saw Africa's highest fashion on display with designers from Ghana, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia on stage.

The fashion show had some great designers such as Zambian based Esnoko, ChizO and Nadrey Laurent (formerly Totally Ethnik) from Ghana, Quiteira & George from South Africa and iZaura from Bostwana amongst others all showed the best of their pieces on the runway.

After the event, I had the opportunity to meet and chat up with these sisters who have become Zambian fashionistas and style influencers and were recently featured on CNN. Talked about many things relating to African fashion and also learnt a lot from each other. Wish them well as they put Zambian Fashion on the global map. I had a great time talking with them.

And then I found a great connection, the girls at PRGirlMedia (Chishi and Monde Nyambe) & MaFashio (Sekayi and Tukiya Fundafunda) are both sisters in business together. How beautiful it is to be in business with your sister. Cheers ladies, keep up the great work.

I did have a great time in Zambia and will keep the memories with me and hope to return sometime soon.

I will leave you with these photos…

Sekayi and Tukiya Fundafunda of MaFashio

Monde and Chishi

Costume by @Nadreylaurent

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

Speakers and Panelists -Women in PR Seminar 2017

On the eve of 1^st July, 2017, I felt a deep joy in my heart, not just because we have been able to pull off an event for the first time but to see something that has been on my mind for many years come to pass.

Right from this day in 2015 when I blogged this first post featuring Millicent Baku, PR at WAEC, the event idea started. Few years down the line, Women in PR Ghana Seminar officially launched.

It started sometime in 2012 when I joined a Facebook closed group page called Women in PR created by Ange Collins where she spear heads a Women in PR Summit as well as followed her blog and social media pages. I became a fan of all those activities and wanted so badly to see same happening here in Ghana.As they said, there is no original idea on this earth, the idea to have a women in public relations event was born out similar thing being done in US and Canada.

I had always wondered and wandered; why wasn’t such events or organizations in Ghana. Five years down the line, this has become a reality. Then I knew it was close to impossible to organize it because I was a recent graduate, I barely knew anyone in the PR industry talk less of holding a women in PR Seminar.

On Saturday 1^st July 2017, with the support of a great team and friends and people I call angels, we were able to pull off the maiden edition. In as much as I had very high expectations in terms of attendance because it was a niche event and companies were going to embrace it, it was a hard knack to crack.

It was the first time so yes, doors slammed at us, people said No, heard the “I am Sorry words”, people changed their minds, people turned their backs, and the last nightmare was knowing one of leading speakers wouldn’t show up.

With a first event of close of 80 attendees, we could only be grateful. We had the likes of the President of IPR Ghana Madam Elaine Sam, Dr. Koryoe Anim-Wright President of African University College of Communications, Gifty Bingley Head of Corporate Affairs, Tigo Ghana and Cynthia E. Ofori-Dwumfuo (PR Business Leader, Ogilvy & Mather Ghana) all as speakers.

And had a panel discussion moderated by Akosua Ogyiri Kwafo (Communications Professional, Stratcomm Africa) will have panelists to include Joyce Ahiadorme (Sustainability and Community Affairs Manager, Voltic Ghana), Paulina Kuranchie (Head of PR Department, Ghana Institute of Journalism), Afia Drah (Head of Public Relations, Trust Hospital) and Fati Shaibu (News Editor, e.TV Ghana).

I am confident of how far this event will go to affect the practice of Public Relations in Ghana, build a great community of professionals and serve as a resource platform for many of us.

I know I have made my appreciation post on Facebook already but I will still want to thank everyone who believed in this idea and has not stopped supporting us to keep the flame alive.

We are already thinking about the next edition. Feel free to share your ideas on how we can improve and become better.

See you at the 2018 edition.

Cheers

Speaking to the IPR President and AUCC President before the start of the event

Photocredit: Shotbyese & Faithful Spirit

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

Totally Ethnik, one of the leading fashion brands in Ghana on the 30th June 2017 officially rebranded to Nadrey Laurent. Many have asked what inspired the Rebrand as they love Totally Ethnik anyway.

It became necessary at this time as the brand is gaining more global attention as well as making great in-roads onto various fashion markets.

So here is to why we did a rebrand: Totally Ethnik was established in 2013 as a home/interior décor company which later transitioned into a clothing brand. Overtime, we have had the feedback on the name Totally Ethnik especially when foreigners come into contact with the pieces, they expect the name to live what they see(must be totally ethnic). You know what I mean, must be african prints or completely African and be as ethnic and possible.

Truth be told, our pieces are a mix of anything the designer is inspired by. The designer doesn’t want to be boxed into making collections with only prints or African fabrics. She loves to have the creative freedom to express herself, hence we realized that the name “Totally Ethnik” was becoming a limitation.

Now on Nadrey Laurent; with a desire to have personal connection our customers, we decided to have a name that will connect easily with our customers as well as give it an international appeal.

Nadrey Laurent therefore is my love, my heart for Nadrey in a (local dialect in Cote D’Ivoire) which is also the name of the Designer's first daughter and Laurent which is also the name of designer’s father whose fashion sense serves as a source of inspiration to her.

So yes, we are now Nadrey Laurent. The name change was done together with the official opening of Nadrey Laurent Flagship shop in East Legon near A&C Mall same building as Hair Senta New Shop.

It is located on No.24 Jungle Road, East Legon.

Hope you will stop by soon to check out the place and our new collection below: