Though formerly considered a profession for school drop-outs and, therefore, unattractive, fashion design and textiles productionis fast becoming a great industry and making a significant impact on the lives and fortunes of many Ghanaians.
Identified as a creative industry, the actors in this field have made their impact to be feltby producing beautiful garments to satisfy the needs of their customers, both locally and internationally.
The display of variety and equally –matched designs at the 2022 Accra Technical University (ATU)final year students’ Fashion Design and Textile Show made it impossible for spectators to put a finger on which particular design was the best.
The Vice-Chancellor of ATU, Prof. Samuel Odoi, in his address, said he was glad the university had equipped the students with the requisite skills which had turned them into unique designers and entrepreneurs.
He lauded the support parents had given to their wards throughout their period of studies in the university, making it possible for the students to complete their courses successfully.
The Head of Fashion Design and Textile Department (HOD), Mrs Catherine Adu, also said fashion and textile had become a lucrative industry for both amateurs and the professionals. And in the quest to satisfy the growing demands in the industry, sustainability was the watchword.
She said from production stage to post-production, there were various practices in the industry that contributed to an unsustainable pattern and had affected the ecosystem.
“Fashion plays a crucial role in everyone’s life and the type of dress we wear, the accessories we put on help to define who we area,” she said.
According to her, fashion trends kept changing because designers would use their creativity to merge old styles with new trends and introduce a new fashion altogether. She said in the past, fashion was used to symbolise wealth, elegance and glamour, but today it reflected a way of life, the inner beauty and people’s comfort.
Mrs Adu said the Department trained students to acquire holistic knowledge and a well-balanced perspective which enabled them to become professionals to operate in the modern fashion design and textile industry.
The Guest Speaker who is the Creative Director and Co-founder of Wear Ghana Limited, MsAngorkorNai-Kwade, who said she started from a humble beginning, urged the students to aim high in life since there were many opportunities to be explored, provided they were prepared to embrace the challenges that would come their way.
She advised them to sharpen their skills, improve on their mistakes, draw inspirations from those who have excelled in the industry, know their capabilities and limitations, develop the right attitude to work, do the right thing, and be content with their capabilities since each person was endowed with a unique talent.
By Raymond Kyekye