The maiden Black Star Fashion Week (BSFW) has opened in Accra with a fashion summit bringing together policymakers, designers, creatives, investors and other industry players to explore opportunities for the growth and global competitiveness of Ghana's fashion industry.
The summit, held at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel on Wednesday, November 4, is the first of two major events scheduled under the initiative, with the second being a fashion showcase at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on November 7.
Organised by the Rex Omar-led Black Star Experience under the theme, “Put Ghana On”, the initiative seeks to create a platform for promoting Ghanaian fashion, strengthening the industry's business prospects and showcasing local designers to international audiences.
The opening day featured masterclasses, panel discussions, fireside chats and exhibitions, alongside networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities for participants.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, was the special guest of honour at the summit. Also in attendance were the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Afua Hoadzeto, and UNESCO representative Edmond Moukouala, among other dignitaries.
In her remarks, Mrs Gomashie commended the organisers for the initiative, describing fashion as a “strategic pillar of Ghana's creative economy” with the potential to create jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship, attract investment and increase exports.
She highlighted Ghana's cultural heritage, including Kente, Fugu, Adinkra symbols, traditional weaving and beadwork, as important resources for fashion innovation and called for greater investment in the sector's value chain.
She also urged stakeholders to deliberately integrate fashion into the country's tourism offerings through fashion weeks, textile exhibitions, cultural festivals, heritage tours and creative markets.
Coordinator of the Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, said the fashion week provided an important platform for addressing issues affecting the industry's development, including access to finance, market development, infrastructure, skills development, international competitiveness and intellectual property protection.
Discussions at the summit explored the storytelling power of fashion, financing models to support the sector and strategies for building brands capable of competing in international markets. Other sessions examined the role of technology, sustainability and innovation in shaping the industry's future.
The event also provided an opportunity to spotlight successful Ghanaian fashion businesses and designers, while giving emerging creatives the chance to learn from established industry practitioners.
A key feature of the initiative is the 16-Region Designer Programme, which seeks to showcase emerging designers drawing inspiration from the cultural identity, heritage and craftsmanship of their respective regions.
The fashion week will climax on November 7 at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo with the Presidential Runway, which will feature fashion presentations and provide another platform for showcasing Ghanaian design and creativity.
