YOUNG GHANAIAN FASHION BRANDS TO KNOW AND SUPPORT

Growing up, my understanding of Ghanaian fashion was the wax print creations and rare kente pieces my mother would have made for me for church and special occasions. I would dig through a sea of brightly colored patterns and symbols that my mother would sometimes explain to me, to find something to wear for a family wedding or a big school event. Those pieces felt special, far removed from the  t-shirts I could wear until they molded to my body.

When I was a teen, the wax print industry boomed, and wax print shirts, blazers, trousers, jumpsuits–you name it, there was a wax print form of it–were everywhere. I found them overwhelming and not entirely inspiring, and for a number of years, thought that was the extent of the local fashion industry. 

Over the last few years, I have learned about more local brands, often run by incredibly creative designers of my generation, which have built a local industry that gives variety, high quality, innovative cuts and fabrics, and really brings the spice I longed for in Ghanaian fashion. These designers make a range of pieces from the breezy button downs you can pair with all your favorite bottoms, to intricate one-of-a-kind pieces you would pull out for a big event. 

I wanted to share some of the ones I have seen and enjoyed, including retailers who stock from a range of brands and make them easily accessible.