Black Star Fashion Week Honours Seven Pioneers as Ghana Pushes Fashion as Economic Sector

Ghana’s inaugural Black Star Fashion Week closed Saturday with a tribute to seven figures whose work across design, manufacturing, education, and export helped build the country’s fashion industry, as organisers signalled a broader push to treat fashion as a serious economic sector rather than a purely creative pursuit.

The honours were presented during the Presidential Runway showcase at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on 7 November, the climax of a two-day initiative organised by the Black Star Experience Secretariat under the theme “Put Ghana On”. Three of the seven—Chez Julie founder Juliana Miranda Norley Kweifio-Okai, St Ossei founder Ricci Osei, and designer Kofi Ansah—were recognised posthumously, with relatives receiving citations on their behalf.

The full list of honourees included Joyce Ababio, founder of JACCD Design Institute Africa; Nora Bannerman-Abbott, chief executive of Sleek Garments Export Limited; streetwear pioneer Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto; and Tetteh Adzedu, founder of Adzedu of Shapes.

A Legacy of Firsts

Joyce Ababio was celebrated for integrating Kente into everyday clothing and for her contributions to fashion education. In 1995, she became the first Ghanaian designer to win the Best Formal Evening Wear award at the Miss World pageant, and she has dressed successive First Ladies since 1992. Her JACCD Design Institute Africa has trained generations of fashion professionals.

Kofi Ansah was remembered as a pioneer of modern African couture whose designs brought Ghanaian fashion to international attention. He founded the Federation of African Designers and mentored younger creatives, leaving a legacy that extended well beyond his own collections.

The late Juliana Miranda Norley Kweifio-Okai, who founded Chez Julie in 1960, was honoured for blending African dress with international influences at a time when few Ghanaian women ran their own businesses. Her entrepreneurial journey was cited as an inspiration for women seeking to build enterprises in cultural industries.

Ricci Osei, who died in 2001, was recognised for his St Ossei and BRASS labels and for connecting fashion with art, music, and culture. His approach framed clothing as an expression of personality and contemporary African identity.

Manufacturing and Export

Nora Bannerman-Abbott’s recognition centred on Sleek Garments Export Limited, which in 2007 was cited as an African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) success story after exporting 75,000 men’s shirts to the United States. The honour underscored the potential of Ghanaian garment production in international markets—a theme organisers returned to repeatedly over the two-day event.

Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto was honoured for shaping Ghanaian streetwear and youth culture during the rise of hiplife, through the Mawuli Kofi Okudzeto, MAWULI, and MKO.GH labels. His work helped forge a visual identity that connected clothing with music and contemporary youth expression.

Tetteh Adzedu, founder of Adzedu of Shapes, brought African menswear and traditional textiles into contemporary design. A recipient of the 1998 Principal Prince Claus Award, he was recognised for demonstrating that cultural heritage could serve as a foundation for innovation and international relevance.

Beyond the Runway

The honours followed an announcement by Black Star Experience Coordinator Rex Omar at a 4 November engagement, where he disclosed plans for a recognition scheme celebrating pioneering figures across Ghana’s fashion industry.

“These are individuals who have contributed immensely to where we are today, often without the recognition they deserve,” Omar said. “Their stories must be told, their contributions celebrated and their legacies preserved for future generations”.

The Presidential Runway also featured collections from leading Ghanaian designers and performances by Okyeame Kwame and Lamisi. Earlier in the week, the Black Star Fashion Summit in Accra brought together policymakers, creatives, and industry stakeholders, with Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie describing fashion as a “strategic pillar of Ghana’s creative economy”. Celebrated broadcaster Kwasi Kyei Darkwah delivered a keynote calling for specialisation, higher professional standards, and greater investment across the fashion value chain.

Organisers also announced that the Secretariat would publish an annual Ghana fashion industry report beginning next year, aimed at supporting investment decisions and informing government policy.

For the honourees, the recognition carried a message beyond celebration. Several used the occasion to call for greater investment and structural support for practitioners, stressing that hard work and dedication alone were not enough to sustain careers in an industry still lacking robust financing, infrastructure, and market access.