Ghana's iconic runway elevates African designers

DW (English)

Ghana is setting the stage for African fashion to shine. For over a decade, Rhythms On Da Runway has championed creativity, sustainability and cultural pride, empowering the next generation of designers to dream big.

Transcript

00:00Glamour, style, innovation. They all converge on this spectacular runway in Accra, Ghana's

00:08vibrant capital. For 15 years, Rhythms on the Runway has been more than a fashion show.

00:16It's a movement. This December, under the theme Black Stars Edition, the historic

00:24Christian Bock Castle transformed into a hub of artistry, hosting over 100 designers from across

00:31Africa. The goal, to inspire young creatives to celebrate heritage while embracing modern,

00:38sustainable fashion. Fashion has become a true engine of opportunity, offering dignified livelihoods

00:47and inspiring a new generation of creative entrepreneurs. We also know from global lessons

00:53that fashion and textile sectors have been powerful drivers of transformation. The

00:59ancient tigers, for instance, strategically developed their textile and garment industries,

01:05using them as anchors for industrial growth, export expansion and technology transfer. Creative

01:12industries are not merely cultural expressions. They are pillars of economic development.

01:19This year's runway spotlighted sustainability, African textiles, sportswear and inclusivity. It welcomes

01:28designers who champion accessibility and artists who fuse fashion with fine art. I'm a staunch advocate

01:37for environmental justice, for reimagining waste. So true to my, once again, to my core philosophy,

01:46I am dressed in everything repurposed and recycled. People are curious and some of them have never heard

01:54of the word trash couture. So basically, I am here to campaign. I'm not just here to look beautiful and nice

02:02and just get attention. I'm here to spread my gospel, my message about meaningful, sustainable fashion practices.

02:13So I'm here exhibiting, showing what it means to be an artist, abstract artist and also mixed media artists.

02:20I want them to appreciate it. It helps them to relax, help them to see you can transform your words with

02:27paint, helps them to have an idea of what abstract art is and also let them appreciate a Ghanaian artist as well.

02:36The organizers hope this platform will keep pushing boundaries for years to come.

02:41At Rhythms on the Runway, culture is very important to us. Heritage is very important to us.

02:47The preservation of what we have as a country and as Africa is very important to us. So that's why we

02:53are continuing here on the 15th edition of Rhythms on the Runway. This is the Black Star edition. Now,

03:00in a global world where African excellence is rising, everywhere everybody is talking about Africa,

03:06this is the legacy that we are pushing and this is where Rhythms on the Runway stands for.

03:10Rhythms on the Runway kicks off a series of events under the December in Ghana initiative ahead

03:17of the festive season. The country aims to position itself as the hub of cultural celebration this

03:23December, shaping what people wear and how they express themselves.

Category

Transcript

Comments

Recommended