LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Discerning buyers in some of the most cosmopolitan fashion capitals of the world are already familiar with the brand, A A K S, and its talented creative founder, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi. She regular exhibits at some of the most prestigious fashion and accessory showcase events around the world, always capturing the attention of the media, as well as enthusiastic followers and buyers.
Akosua has built a brand following with the production of her beautiful and distinctive raffia bags, all handmade by a women’s cooperative in Northern Ghana. The brand produces luxurious handmade accessories using ethical processes inspired by old-age craft traditions, which are not often seen beyond the borders of Ghana.
Ghanaian fashion designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi 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.
After interning and working with fashion designers such as Peter Pilotto, Matthew Williamson and William Tempest in London, Akosua embarked on her own path in 2013 to set up AAKS in Ghana. Against all the odds she succeeded in her mission, and today AAKS is a brand that seeks to showcase the unlimited possibilities for the fashion and textile industries in Ghana. Using skills and techniques that are unique to this part of Ghana, craftsmanship is the foundation of this luxury brand. It takes approximately one week to complete a handbag, which attests to an unwavering dedication to modern style and interpretations using traditional methods. Lovingly made by hand, each bag bears the fingerprints of the person who fashioned it, and a signature tag is added to prove authenticity.
Since launching in September 2014, Akosua has showcased her work internationally in Paris, London, New York, Milan, Johannesburg and Cape Town. She has been shortlisted as an emerging designer from Africa by Vogue Italia and has been featured by CNN, Vogue, Elle Decoration, Forbes Woman Africa, Guardian UK, House and Garden, Virgin and Harpers Bazaar to name a few. Akosua now stocks her collection in 20 countries and 70 stores worldwide including Bloomingdales, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, SFMOMA in the USA and United Arrows in Japan. She has recently collaborated and created private label products for brands around the world such as Rag and Bone USA, Bamford UK, and Maison Sara Lavoine in Paris.
The AAKS brand tells an exciting story of Ghana, offering a different perspective of Africa as a whole. The visual inspiration behind every design is reflected through the images of Ghana and the crafters as they create these handbags shared by Akosua on social media. She is building an African brand ethically and conscientiously one handbag at a time.
Akosua has just launched her new AAKS SS20 (Spring Summer 2020) collection which can be found by visiting the website www.aaksonline.com
