While Paris Fashion Week’s well underway and we’re busy gearing up for Lagos Fashion and Design Week this month, the 2015 Ghana Fashion and Design Week (GFDW), holding between the 23rd and 25th of October, has just announced its New Talent Spot initiative winners: womenswear designer, Julia Shika Odamtten, menswear talent, Radiant Jackson and Michael Kofi Owusu, another menswear designer, who will be in showcase at the initiative’s popup space during the event.
With each budding talent having recently graduated from Radford University College in Ghana, their selection for the event comes as a big deal, offering them exposure to press and buyers who’ll be at the Kempinski Hotel Accra for the Fashion Week, and may well make them ones to watch in fashion over the next few years.
The trio will be at GFDW with aims to advance their business development in the industry, with full support from GFDW under its New Talent Spot initiative. Last year’s elected graduate designer Afua Biney, who is currently in development under the initiative, will also be in showcase at the event’s Talent Spot space this year.
GFDW said of this year’s New Talent lineup;
“The one to spot this year at the [New Talent] initiative space will be Afua Biney’s new eponymous collection and brand, to be launched at the fashion week event.
It is truly exciting and encouraging times for ongoing development at GFDW, we look forward to seeing her progress post graduation, and welcoming our new creative talents Julia Naa Shika, Radiant Jackson and Michael Owusu to the New Talent Spot initiative space this year!”
So far, the graduates have been under the care of Mrs. Yvonne Ntiamoah, HOD of the Fashion Design Dept at Radford University, who says of her students’ selection for the event;
“It is truly uplifting to see a new wave of creative talents graduating with the right skills to propel them further in their chosen career, and indeed very exciting to see that all efforts made are gradually yielding fruitful results, as we continue to move forward in creating the next generation of industry savvy fashion designers, equipped with the right knowledge of fashion as a business that can lead to a successful and fulfilling career in Ghana and Africa if approached and guided well.”
News of the trio’s selection for the New Talent Spot initiative comes just after word that their designer peer, Papa Opponghas been selected to join top store Macy’s fashion incubator programme, for training and industry experience in the USA.
While we at SPICE support the 2015 GFDW event as sponsors, alongside Mercedes-Benz, Vogue Italia and many more, we are excited to bring you content from the catwalk and behind the scenes at the event. In the mean time, head here for your tickets as you don’t want to miss out on a spot on the Frow at Ghana Fashion and Design Week, or the chance to see these new designers at the New Talent Spot space.
Image source: Ghanafashionweek.com
