Dr. Kofi Amoah's Birthday Party at Citizen Kofi, Accra

At Ghanaian businessman extraordinaire Dr. Kofi Amoah, CEO of Citizen Kofi entertainment centre’s big birthday bash in Accra. I bumped into a classic Keba shirt pristine on Richard Adzei.  The handsome Adzei modelled for Men’s bespoke designer Ozwald Boateng for Ghana’s hosting of CatWALK The World back in Dec 2006. 

Guests were really enjoying paa’ (very well – Akan lan.), majority were friends of Dr. Amoah and key industry players.  Last year’s big bash was a white dress affair with the crème de le crème of Ghana’s socialites (home & away), big ballers, showbiz icons and the ‘it’ brigade attended in large numbers.  This year was definitely no exception, the ‘STRICTLY BY INVITATION’ mega celebration saw to it that anyone not on the guest list got bounced, ouch!  Can you imagine the guest list was over by 200 names, shhh...  but what a party!

I had a ball and enjoyed spotting the interesting creations in African fashion, print and design. There are some interesting designers coming up like label '1957' by no other than Prince Fashionista and media personality KOD with his debut of mens kaftans.  Another cool and old skool label I spotted in the mass was a bejewelled Angelina Mens shirt by Royal Dennis.  It’s been fashion heaven.  More pictures are coming!!!!

'Africa is a continent rich in culture, full of adventure and bursting with energy'.

                                                 Kofi Ansah Godfather of Ghana Fashion

                              Akua Ofosuhene; Film Maker with Birthday Man Dr. Kofi Amoah

                         Amandzeba (Nat Brew) Musician in mud cloth adorned with cowries

                         Deborah Owusu; Model & Entrepreneur, Ignus; Head of FOURSITE TV

                              Dennis Tawiah; Head of Akwaaba UK (Party In The Park, Miss Ghana)

                                          Guest in a bejewelled Angelina/Angelica shirt 'Royal Dennis'

                                                        Award winning Hiplife artist Tic Tac

                                   STAR PHOTO:  Honourable Samia Nkrumah, leader of CPP

                                                        The buxom Ivana of Elle Couture

                                       KOD; Birthday MC wearing a Kaftan from his new range '1957'

                                                   Mr & Mrs Reggie Rockstone and a guest

                            
                           The lengendary Teddy Osei of OSIBISA in Sheda Cloth with Tiger print

A recent history of Ghana fashion and my small place in it

Reminiscing... when I originally landed in 2000, fashion sense in Ghana I thought was less risqué compared to many other African countries. From 2003-07 the fashion masters; in the specialist area of haute couture and costume made, included, Kofi Ansah; Art Dress www.kofi-artdress.com, Ricky 'Ricci' Osei (Saint Osei) and Kwesi N’ti (bespoke Ashanti and Italian influence shoes). Making it big the fashion mistresses of business were, Joyce Ababio; Vogue Style  www.voguestyleschooloffashion.com, Nora Bannerman’s Sleek Garments Export, and the partnership of Helen Teague and British comedian Dawn French’s plus size label for  women sixteen47.
The in-betweeners was where i wanted to be, to see the inside of style on the restless city’s streets; exciting and credible designers like, ELEKE, Ivana (Elle Couture), Jimi Delaja, Ghanaian award winning duo Bee Arthur and Ben Nonterah (BENON), Mawuli Okudzeto (MKOGH) www.mkogh.com , Thomas Sarfo Boakye, Araba Hackman (ALABAH), Wendy Artisan, to name drop just a few. These designers were extremely diverse in terms of their creativity and there was never a dull moment in Accra’s fashion terrain. This was exciting...this was exactly where I put myself.

Keba clothing was born [Nov 2003 – AUG 2007]. 

Coca Cola & Red Wine

Have you tried the craze from France, Coca Cola with Red wine?  Be warned it is a creeper. I got the chance to sample this delightful concoction with singer/songwriter and fashionista Efya who introduced this in-thing to me.  We were mingling with some high profilers at a private lunch marking the opening of the new Ovation House restaurant by publisher Dele Momodu.  We were treated to some mouth-watering cuisines and luscious drinks. 

Efya and I were having a thrilling girly time with the beautiful Wendy of Foursite TV.  Efya revealed her fav label is ‘Duaba Serwa’, Accra's newest led by designer  Nelly Emerald Aboagye who works in bold colours, linens, raw silks and materials such as sequins, glass beads, fancy buttons . Duaba Serwa uses a combination of retro futurism, rounded hips and sharply accentuated shoulders with a hint of masculinity. 

The young and incredibly talented Nelly should be touching down in London as I write this blog ready to tour and represent Ghana within the pump and pageantry of London Fashion Week and industry.  She recently scooped first prize at the Young Fashion Entrepreneur awards held in Ghana; an event by the British Council. Watch this space on her!

Check out Efya at 4shared.com/efya and reverbnation.com/efya and let your ears get aroused.

This is the Birth of African Cool

Introductions to FashionGHANA

I have recently landed in Accra, Ghana's capital city exactly 8 weeks ago from London...actually I left from Chigwell, Essex; the new LA, lol.

Since my arrival, I have been contemplating blogging on fashion lifestyle and fashion business here in Ghana.  So from time to time I also hope to bring you a few snippets and fashion gossip from around the ECOWAS region of West Africa.  

I am hoping that this  blog will become a platform to connect designers, fashion editors, buyers, retailers, photographers, stylist, artists, models, fashionista’s, celebs and all those in fashion Lifestyle here in Ghana and in the ECOWAS region.  I will let you in on new designs and designers, prices, accessories, products and services.  There will be info on any final markdowns, sample sales, swap shops and flea markets in town. 

The Birth of brand KEBA
I, set-up my brand Keba [Clothing] I employed 22 people, with two outlets in cosmopolitan Osu (Keba and AFRO EURO) and a production unit. Organised fashion events and shows; the first African Label to be sold at Top Shop in flagship store Oxford Circus, W1. The label also provided wardrobe for a number of TV shows, fashion events and key national pageants including dynamic film maker; Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s series of Miss Ghana/Miss World. Keba’ won ‘Spectacular Gown’ in Miss Ghana 2003 edition. 

Fashion in Ghana is now very competitive; there’s been a dramatic rise in the importance of fashion and speed of design, marketing and distribution here in Ghana thanks to labels like Renee Q www.reneeqb.com as one out of many examples.  There are countless clothing businesses and thousands of people employed in the fashion & design industry in Ghana with each designer unique in their own label’s culture. 

Thanks for visiting my first ever blog from Ghana, where the word on the streets is ‘A New AFRICA’.

It’s not what you wear; it’s how you work & style it!