African Fashion Foundation (AFF), Fashion 4 Development (F4D) – the global organization that has supported the United Nations goals through fashion and lifestyle for the last ten years – and Ghanaian retailer The Lotte have joined forces to expand their impact through a project that aims to empower and encourage young street children and impoverished women by pairing them with talented established designers in the fashion accessory and garment industry in West Africa for a skills exchange programme. With the support of Adonai Child Development Foundation(ACDF), the young street women, known as Kayayei, will be working in the designers’ studio and will be trained in key sewing and production skills all whilst contributing to a collection that will be showcased internationally. In addition, Untamed Empire Creative Business Incubator will provide the women with training to develop fashion business skills.

The purpose of this social project is to empower the Kayayei women as well as encourage fashion to be used for a good cause whilst achieving a global reach thanks to the support of Fashion 4 Development through the “Four E’s” : Educate, Empower, Enhance, Enrich. This inaugural collection will kick start an ongoing partnership with ACDF and the Kayayei women to provide them with key skills and reintegrate them back into the community. In a recent report that included a focused group discussion with 36 Kayayei in Accra, participants stated these women live wherever they can find a place to lay their heads on and this mainly happens in open stations – exposing them to constant dangers. Giving them skills and a long-term job puts them in a better position to make a consistent and reliable income as well as developing abilities that can eventually get them off the streets. ACDF will be supporting the young girls in this process and helping them find a safe accommodation. The final collection will be showcased and made available for purchase in The Lotte retail space in central Accra following the presentations in Lagos, Dubai and New York. The designers included are Torlowei, Ophelia Crossland, and Velma’s Millinery & Accessories.

Spread the love