BlueCrest College’s School of Fashion and Design is set to propel the Ghanaian fashion industry towards achieving sustainability and aid the country reach its SDG 12 goal – Responsible consumption and production.

This is according to the Vice Rector of the College, Mr. Eric Hanson, who was delivering the opening remarks at the just ended BlueCrest College annual graduate fashion show dubbed Apasoɔ Kasa (Scissors Talk) at the World Trade Centre, October 28.

The event was to showcase the outstanding designs of the College’s graduating students, embodying the results of their acquired skills and craft throughout their education.

The fashion show which was the 9^th of its kind was part of a larger campaign to create awareness on conscious and sustainable fashion in the Ghanaian fashion industry.

According to the Vice Rector, this campaign is coming at an opportune time taking into consideration the effects of human activity on the climate.

Quoting a few statistics, he mentioned that fashion and its supply chain is the third largest polluting industry after food and construction, releasing about 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year.

The fashion industry is also responsible for 20% of global water waste and nearly 10% of micro plastic from textiles end up in the ocean each year, endangering marine life.

These he described as alarming, and urged stakeholders in the industry particularly educational institutions to champion the sustainability agenda.

“This is why we have carefully chosen tonight's theme, "Creating a sustainable fashion paradigm, the re-wear revolution". It signifies our strong dedication to advancing sustainable agenda. Our aim is to spark a fashion sustainability revolution in Ghana that extends far beyond the confines of this runway, leaving an imprint on the essence of the industry,” he said.

He also called on all and sundry to partner with the School of Fashion and Design “in various capacities, including sponsorship, grants, donation, expert insights, provision of equipment and financial contribution in furthering the cause of sustainable fashion, not only in Ghana but across the Sub Saharan Africa.”

The fashion show

The graduating students in pursuance of the sustainability agenda showcased their designs repurposed from materials such as old neckties, used clothes from Kanatamanto, plastic bottles, and compact disks, among others.

Speaking to one of the graduating students, Beatrice Dede Addy who had breathed new life into old clothes by enhancing their vibrancy with paint and water colours, she said her work was an expression of who she is and perhaps, a reflector of the wearer’s personality.

“I believe fashion is a way of life and it's a way of expressing yourself. So like I said, being an artist and seeing my designs, I want somebody to be able to tell where it's coming from and be able to express themselves within it as well,” she said.

She urged other aspiring fashion designers to pick up a course at the BlueCrest College to “learn a lot of new stuff.”

Meanwhile, Samuel Amanor, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Space Financial Cloud, a guest at the event, said the fashion show was testament that Ghana has a lot of potential when it comes to fashion curation and design.

“I believe this youth are about to do something really magical. What they put together is amazing. The creativity, the organization, the sound effects, the styles. Pretty, pretty good… I really love it,” he said.

Below are some other designs that graced the runway: