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Behind The Design - Ep 6 Akosua Afriyie-Kumi | Tracing the journey of turning an idea into a globally stocked ethical fashion brand

Ep 6 Akosua Afriyie-Kumi | Tracing the journey of turning an idea into a globally stocked ethical fashion brand

Behind The Design

10/10/19 • 38 min

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This is episode 6 where I am joined by fashion accessories designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi.

ABOUT AKOSUA:

You are listening to episode #6. And joining me on the show is Akosua Afriyie-Kumi the founder of A A K S, a fashion accessories brand that tells an exciting story of Ghana, and offers a different perspective of Africa as a whole. A A K S’s raffia bags are handmade by a women’s cooperative in Northern Ghana, and uses ethical processes inspired by old-age craft traditions. Through her brand Akosua wants the world to see how luxury and quality can grow from traditional designs and is using AAKS bags to change perceptions of Africa through fashion. She has been shortlisted as an emerging designer from Africa by Vogue Italia and has been featured in leading press titles and the A A K S collections are stocked in 20 countries and 70 stores worldwide.

We talk about:

  • Moving from the UK back to Ghana to explore her idea and start her business
  • Her desire to build on traditional crafts and give them a place in the modern world
  • Finding weavers to work with and overcoming communication barriers to develop her design ideas
  • The process from concept to getting her first saleable bag, and how she plans and develops a collection
  • Building an authentic brand in a content noisy world
  • How she retains her ethical values whilst meeting commercial demands
  • The challenges of business in balancing passion and purpose with making a living
  • Her big break and her experiences of working with stockists
  • Creating a brand and developing her brand aesthetic
  • The relevance of having a website to attract stockists

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

Kingston University UK - https://www.kingston.ac.uk

British Library Business & IP Centre - https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre

Anthropologie - https://www.anthropologie.com/en-gb/

British Council - https://www.britishcouncil.org

Design Network Africa - https://designnetworkafrica.wordpress.com

Lagos Fashion Week - http://lagosfashionweek.ng

Pitti Trade show Milan - http://www.pittimmagine.com/en/corporate/fairs.html

She Trades - https://www.shetrades.com/en

UNHCR Weaving for Change - https://www.aaksonline.com/blog/2018/2/11/weaving-for-change

Where you can go to find out more about Akosua

www.aaksonline.com

Instagram: @a.a.k.s

Facebook: @aakshandcrafted

Get the full show notes at: www.atelier55design.com/podcast

Behind the Design is brought to you by atelier 55

10/10/19 • 38 min

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