info@businessghana.com
The Department of Fashion Design and Textiles at Accra Technical University has displayed its final-year students' creative brilliance and cultural pride through an exhibition of their project works, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey.
The exhibition, which was themed, “Promoting African heritage – Our pride, our fashion,” formed an integral part of efforts to highlight students' creativity, celebrate African identity and prepare graduates for professional practice in the fashion industry.
Speaking at the exhibition, the acting Vice-Chancellor of the Accra Technical University, Professor Amevi Acakpovi, applauded the students for their innovative designs and dedication.
He noted that their work reflected not only their technical skills but also their ability to translate creativity into practical fashion solutions.
Professor Acakpovi hoped the students’ contributions would help raise the university’s profile in Ghana’s fashion industry.
“I want to hear the ATU mentioned whenever the giants in the fashion industry are being talked about. This can only happen through your innovative designs,” he stated.
He also called for greater male participation in the department after observing that female students heavily dominated the field.
The Head of the Fashion, Design and Textiles Department, Dr Emma Donkor, explained that the exhibition featured the works of 419 Higher National Diploma (HND) students majoring in fashion design, fashion production and textiles.
She mentioned that students were expected to create four complete outfits, but only one outfit was exhibited due to space limitations.
“This is a final-year project and the theme, ‘Promoting African Heritage – Our Pride, Our Fashion,’ reflects our commitment to cultural expression through clothing.
Students were encouraged to explore their concepts while maintaining the core message of African identity,” she said.
Dr Donkor added that the students drew inspiration from Ghanaian culture, with some collections depicting traditional symbols such as drums and corn.
She said the techniques displayed included batik, tie-dye, weaving, crocheting and a wide range of dressmaking styles.
Dr Donkor expressed confidence in the students’ abilities, but urged them to embrace entrepreneurship by starting small, rather than waiting for large capital or business spaces.
Dr Donkor mentioned that the upcoming fashion show at the national theatre would climax the students’ final-year project, allowing them to present their full collections in a professional setting.
She revealed that to ensure the designs receive full attention, all models will wear simple “adonko” hairstyles to avoid distractions.
