A Fashion Night event held as part of the Ashanti Festival 2025 has served as a platform to put a spotlight on local talents and indigenous craftsmanship in dressmaking and ancillary sectors.

The event brought together a vibrant collection of designers and entrepreneurs in the fashion industry across the Ashanti Region.

Spearheaded by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the goal of the Festival is to give a platform to individuals whose works often go unnoticed due to limited exposure.

The Fashion Night featured Kente weavers, bead designers, bespoke tailors, shoemakers, hat creators, and more, transforming the Rattray Park in Kumasi into a dynamic fashion marketplace.

Specializing in African prints, Baffoe Polo, a fashion house established in 2020, seeks to retell the African story through fashion.

Head of Sales, Nana Kojo Bobie Ansah, shared the significance of the event for emerging brands, noting that “it has been a successful program in all. We’ve made a few sales and educated a lot of people about our brand and what we’re into. We hope the Ashanti Festival becomes something we do every six months.”

Enock Oteng Amponsah, a patron who bought clothing from Baffoe Polo, commended the brand’s creativity.

“Their clothes are catchy and their designs are unique,” he said. “If it [Ashanti Festival] continues, more people in the supply chain will get job opportunities.”

Afia Nyame, Creative Lead of Kente Vogue, traced her inspiration to her mother.

“Growing up, I saw my mum sell Kente pieces, she carried them on her head to cater for us. I took it from her and now sell it on social media and in a shop,” she said.

Afia confirmed the event’s impact, noting that a lot of people have come to know of her brand and therefore doesn’t have to hawk to reach people.

A patron, Yaa Yeboah Kamah, who was invited by a friend, commended Kente Vogue’s pricing.

"Their prices are very low and very nice. You won’t have them on the market, but when I came here, I saw different kinds of Kente which made me patronize them,” she said.

She echoed the call for the Festival to be an annual fixture to support local designers.

With high attendance and exciting support from both vendors and buyers, the Ashanti Festival 2025 has proven to be a turning point for fashion entrepreneurs in the region, blending heritage, innovation, and community empowerment.