African Fashion Foundation and The Lotte to Launch Kayayei Fashion Training Programme
The African Fashion Foundation and The Lotte Accra have
collaborated to create a project that aims to empower, equip and encourage
young street females by pairing them up with some great talent in the fashion
accessory and garment industry in West Africa for a skills exchange programme.
With the support of the Adonai Child Development Foundation (ACDF) the aim is
to present a collaborative new collection. The young street women (Kayayei)
will be working with the designer’s to be trained in key sewing and production
skills all whilst contributing to a collection that will be showcased
internationally.
This project is a social impact venture to empower the
Kayayei woman and to show a way that fashion can be used for good. This
inaugural collection will kickstart an ongoing partnership with The Adonai
Child Development Foundation and the Kayayei women to equip them with key
skills and reintegrate them back into the community. In a recent report that
included a focused group discussion with 36 Kayayei in Accra, participants
stated they live wherever they can find somewhere to lay their heads and, in
most cases, this is in open stations – making themselves susceptive to health
and safety dangers. Teaching them a skill puts them in a better position to
make a consistent and reliable income which will eventually get them off the
streets. ACDF will be supporting the young girls in this process and helping
them find safe accommodation. The final collections ‘Kayayei collection’ will
be showcased and made available for purchase in The Lotte retail space in Accra
following the presentations in Lagos, Dubai and New York.
The Kayayei Collection will consist of the following Designers:
Ophelia Crossland: The Ophelia Crossland brand is synonymous
with elegance, sultry flair and extravagant drama! This household name in the
fashion industry has made its mark as the go to brand for elaborate designs and
styling. It was a step in the right direction when Ophelia Crossland, the
creator of the brand was made the brand ambassador for Swarovski.
Velma’s Millinery & Accessories: Velma’s millinery work
is a cut above the average! Think bold yet elegant, intricate detail yet
comfortable, demure yet sophisticated think Velma’s headpieces, hats and
fascinators. Once again Velma relies on her creative genius to combine various
materials, shapes and styles to create fashion masterpieces guaranteed to turn
heads.
Key Partners and their details are listed below:
African Fashion Foundation (AFF): African Fashion Foundation
is an organization that empowers fashion designers from Africa and its diaspora
to succeed in the global fashion industry and market. By providing designers
with educational opportunities in partnership with established players in the
fashion industry, African Fashion Foundation supports African designers’
professional success. Our vision is to see more successful African designers in
the global fashion industry and luxury market
The Lotte: As a concept store, The Lotte is a centre for
artistic expression, not only through uniquely curated merchandise, but also
through signature customer experiences, installations and branded events. A
distinctive positive voice representing high quality African goods and
lifestyle for local and international consumption, and represents the different
aspects of Neo-African development in taste, style and culture.
Adonai Child Development Foundation: Founded in 2016 by Mrs
Marilyn Amponsah Annan (retired Executive Secretary of Ghana National
Commission on Children – GNCC; which later became the Ghana Ministry of Women
and Children Affairs, of which she was also a Director), The Adonai Child
Development Foundation works with young Kayayei women, street children and
those that have been victims of sex trafficking to reintegrate them back into
society. The Foundation rescues these people who have often been subjected to
many other forms of abuse and provides safe shelter for them as well as
equipping them with vital skills to give them a better chance in life.
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