GHANA FASHION & DESIGN WEEK 2012 EVENT COMES TO AN END IN STYLE

International media houses, press, buyers and fashion savvy guest witnessed the first ever Ghana Fashion & Design Week® event with BlackBerry® as principal sponsor at the Movenpick Hotel in Accra. After several months of planning, the organisers managed to put together a show that has placed Ghana on the fashion map with the rest of the world. Just like most fashion event technical hitches led to a slight late start on the day one, however, guests were pleased with the line-up of innovative designer collections as models sashay the runway. Bringing a new standard and pushing for excellence, the organizers pulled through a successful event, leaving guest demanding for further information about the 2013 show. As all good things must come to an end, Ghana Fashion & Design Week ended with a stylish V.I.P party sponsored by Moet & Chandon on Sunday the 7th of October 2012. Catwalk designers were offered a second opportunity to present their collections post event at the luxurious Viva Boutique in Accra on the 8th & 9th October 2012 allowing buyers, press and media to have a close viewing of the catwalk collections.The fashion week event brought participants from around the world, alongside designers based in Ghana and from the Diaspora to showcase their collections. A guest attending the event stated that “Honestly it has just been an honour and a pleasure to be down here and I think this is the beginning of greater things to come in fashion for Ghana,” Another onlooker described the show as successful and is optimistic about the future of Fashion Week in Ghana.

The star-studded event was pack with Guest and trendy Ghanaian celebrities such as Jocelyn Dumas, Efya, Deborah Vanessa, songtress lady J and prominent members from the government. Both days were packed with a grooving audience, pumping songs, and rhythmic clapping maintained that this was the hottest contemporary international fashion business event to attend in Ghana. Guest attended an educative seminar about the creative business industry, led by high profile panelists including; Zandile Blay, Nana Ekua Hammond Brew, Vogue Italia editor Bethann Hardison, Dr. Richard Boateng and Omar Dubois.The shows kicked off during the evening alongside the popup exhibition hub, revealing an eclectic mix of designer and exhibitors collections, with display of innovative garments made from hair, unlike anything that has been seen before. Beading, turbans, floor sweeping gowns and vibrant print fabrics blew observers away. Hair and makeup designs were by UK based celebrity artists Claire De Graft and Bianca Scott, who brought their artistic expertise in revamping each model’s look.Each day of the event saw a lucky guest randomly picked to win a BlackBerry® smartphone, which brought smiles and excitement to the crowd when their unique reference number on their ticket was been read out.

GFDW® boasts a list of renowned sponsors for the 2012 event including, BLACKBERRY, SO AESTHETIC, PORSCHE, MOET & CHANDON and VIRGIN ATLANTIC, with international media support from VOGUE ITALIA, alongside NEW AFRICAN WOMAN, SHADDERS AFRICA, AFRICAN FASHION GUIDE, AFRICA STYLE DAILY, and a list of local and international press and TV coverage, including the Guardian Newspaper UK, BBC Africa TV, Bella Niaja, Ebony Magazine online, Marie Claire S.A, BeBold TV, The African Channel, Viasat 1 TV, and industry fashion bloggers around the world.