The maiden Black Star Fashion Week (BSFW) kicked off in Accra on Wednesday, Nov. 4, with a summit at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel. The event assembled policymakers, designers, creatives, investors and other industry players to discuss ways to grow and globalise Ghana’s fashion industry.
Organised by the Rex Omar‑led Black Star Experience under the theme “Put Ghana On”, the summit is the first of two major events, the second being a fashion showcase at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo on Nov. 7. The opening day featured masterclasses, panel discussions, fireside chats and exhibitions, alongside networking and knowledge‑sharing opportunities.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Abla Dzifa Gomashie was the special guest of honour. She praised the initiative, calling fashion a “strategic pillar of Ghana’s creative economy” that can create jobs, stimulate entrepreneurship, attract investment and boost exports. Gomashie highlighted Ghana’s cultural heritage—Kente, Fugu, Adinkra symbols, traditional weaving and beadwork—as vital resources for fashion innovation and urged greater investment in the sector’s value chain.
Rex Omar, coordinator of the Black Star Experience, said the fashion week offers a platform to tackle industry challenges such as access to finance, market development, infrastructure, skills development, international competitiveness and intellectual property protection. Discussions explored storytelling, financing models, brand building, technology, sustainability and innovation.
The summit also showcased successful Ghanaian fashion businesses and designers, giving emerging creatives a chance to learn from established practitioners. A key feature of the initiative is the 16‑Region Designer Programme, which aims to highlight emerging designers drawing inspiration from their regions’ cultural identity and craftsmanship.
The week will culminate on Nov. 7 at the Royal Senchi Hotel in Akosombo with the Presidential Runway, featuring fashion presentations and a platform to showcase Ghanaian design and creativity.
