The Chief Executive Officer of Street Fashion Train Foundation, Mr Benjamin Kojo Mills, popularly known as Mr Wear Ghana has said some known Ghanaian Clothing Lines did not get intentional recognition because they were not made from local fabrics.
Mr Wear Ghana who advocates for Ghanaians to create more jobs for designers by patronising made in Ghana clothes said the only means a Ghanaian can showcase his/her identity is through the locally produced textiles and fabrics.
Speaking on Kasapa Fm’s Entertainment Show with host, Eddie Ray, Mr Wear Ghana mentioned that Sarkodie’s clothing line and Stephen Appiah’s StepApp Clothing failed because they refused to use local fabrics.
“The reason why some Ghanaian clothing lines like Stepap, Sark Collection, StepApp, others collapsed is that they were not using our local fabrics,” Wear Ghana told Eddie Ray
He acknowledged Wiyaala and King Ayisoba’s brand as the only Ghanaian artistes to sell Ghana to the world through their fashion sense and not only their music.
“Our local fabrics are able to cross borders. The reason why Wiyaala and King Ayisoba are always seen touring outside is not only about their music but their fashion sense is a plus. They wear fugu and other local prints even on tour outside the country which portrays their true identity,” Wear Ghana noted
According to him, if popular artistes like Sarkodie, Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy and others want to be recognized for what they wear, it best to patronize the locally produced fabrics.
“If Ghanaian artistes like Sarkodie, others want to be known for who they are, it is best they portray their local fabrics or African print in all their deals.” He added
Stephen Appiah’s clothing line named StepApp was released in late November 2007 in Accra.
Appiah who was the first African footballer to launch his own clothing range said at the unveiling ceremony that the proceeds from his clothing line will go to financing activities of his charity, the StepApp Foundation, which caters for the needy across the African continent.
The products which was initially to go on sale in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and the rest of Africa before reaching Europe and the United States ran into trouble.
Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie also unveiled his much talked about clothing line, Sark designed by YAS in 2013.
Sark’s clothing collection includes belts, baseball caps, sneakers, jumpers, sweat pants, t-shirts, shirts and more.
According to reports, the Tema based rapper did not follow the local fabric trend. His collections were western and very authentic.
It was also alleged that due to low sales and debts, the flagship outlet of the Sarknation Boss fashion line in Dzorwulu ceased operations in 2017.
Dumelo’s J-Melo, KOD’s Nineteen57, Nallem Clothing, Kokui’s Clothing Line and other Ghanaian Fashion Designers are still in operation because they mostly sell casual African wears and patronize local fabrics.
Mills is the brain behind The Wear Ghana Project, a campaign that seeks to encourage Ghanaians to wear made in Ghana clothes and use other fashion accessories that are locally produced.
The campaign runs throughout the year but reaches its peak in March with a series of activities such as seminars, symposiums, exhibitions, fashion shows, production of a fashion magazine and an awards night to honour fashion industry players, Ghanaians and institutions whose activities have promoted the fashion industry in Ghana.
