The young painter from Oyibi, whose real name is Moses Agoe, is known for his beautifully hand painted movie posters, which he sells in Ghana as well as to international galleries and collectors. The expressivity of his drawing led us to recruit him for the surreal artworks that adorn our Bold Romantics campaign.

Only one year after it was founded, Lumière won the Emerging Designer of the Year Glitz Style Award. Based in Ghana, this luxury ready-to-wear plus made-to-measure brand was created in 2014 and is directed by Bertha Logan-Owusu. Its fusion between traditional fabrics and lavish materials – such as sheer fabrics and beading – continues to tour various fashion weeks across the continent, receiving critical and public acclaim. Lumière is also part of the line-up behind the looks for our Bold Romantics campaign.

One of Ghana’s most internationally acclaimed artists, D.A. Jasper started his career as a sign designer in the late ‘80s. Before long, he would become an eminent local figure in movie poster painting. With a pop style often inspired by sci-fi and the golden age of comic books, he imbues everything he touches with a sense of the obscure. This is why we chose him to create the fantastical settings for our Bold Romantics fashion stories, which he did through his own paintings and through coordinating other artists’ work.

Ebenezer Mensah is the artist behind the pseudonym Farkira. Originally a sign writer, he is also well known in Ghana for his portrait paintings of celebrities. His detailed compositions and fun approach to reality made him a perfect match for our Bold Romantics campaign, where one of his paintings reinterprets a dining room scene through a whimsical filter.

Jeaurs Oka Afutu – artistically known as Heavy Jearus or Heavy J – started painting movie posters at the age of 14. He continued to do so throughout the ‘90s, before turning his attention to the Western collectors’ market as the Ghanaian cinema industry changed. His vibrant and imaginative style led us to commission a large painting by him to elevate our Bold Romantics campaign.

“Determined to make a mark on every woman’s heart with creativity”

as he puts it, fashion designer Ezekiel Yartel is a red carpet favourite among a number of top African celebrities. His high-end gowns for extravagant occasions helped him build a reputation that quickly turned his label into a household name in Ghana. With luxury and femininity as his flagships, he crafts seductive dresses with intricate cuts and fresh styles, as proven in the looks he designed for our Bold Romantics campaign.

Being the fourth generation of fashion designers in her family, Sadia learnt the profession from her mother at a studio in the suburbs of Accra. She started her own bespoken tailoring house in 2012, at the tender age of 19. With a degree in Communication Design, she has managed to establish a solid base of Ghanaian clients, who are loyal to her signature blend of sensuality and tradition. Influential chef, Fafa Gilbert is one of those clients, whom she dressed for our Bold Romantics campaign.

Leaf Trail

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Ahuodi Pankassa | Makaïva

This fabric is known as “Ahuodi Pankassa Wusa Arm”, which translates to ‘empty barrels make the most noise.’ It means that if you are good at something you must be modest about it. Others may say you’re good, but to say so yourself would be a hollow claim. Sometimes one colourway of a pattern acquires a special meaning. In Ghana, for example, this pattern in blue main motifs is only worn by women who want to indicate they are pregnant.

The Moon

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La Lune

The origins of this Java design lie in Kano, Nigeria. The pattern is an interpretation of a tie-dye motif that is still being used by indigo dyers in Kano today. The large spiral of dots represents the sultan surrounded by his entourage. The pattern is also popular in Ghana, where it was named after a junction in the city of Obo. In Togo, the pattern refers to small change—literally shells, which were once used as currency.

Record

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ALSO KNOWN AS

Target / Nsu Bura

This drawing first appeared on the market in the 1960s and goes by many names, such as “Plaque-Plaque”, “Target”, and “Nsu Bura”, which means ‘water well’ in Ghana. When you throw a stone in a water well, you can see a ripple effect. The message is that whatever you do, good or bad, it will have an effect on everyone around you. Other names include “Consulaire”, “Gbédjégan” (which is a traditional straw king’s hat in Togo), and “Gbedze”, a hat worn during daily activities to protect the wearer from the sun. In Nigeria, the design is known as Record, thanks to the circular shape of the motif, which reminds many consumers and traders of old vinyl records.