I rejected a bank job for fashion designing – Srok

Raphael Odotei Sowah is a Ghanaian designer, artist and a model with the Exopa Modeling Agency. He is the grandson of the legendary artiste, designer and sculptor, Nii Amon Kotei, acclaimed to have designed Ghana’s Coat of Arms.

Raphael has been in the fashion and modeling industry for about seven years now and has featured in a number of fashion shows.

He told NEWS-ONE’s Francis Addo in this interview that he did not intend quitting his line of work anytime soon because he has come a long way to giving up. He insists the job is a lucrative one and disclosed how he gave up a bank job for the fashion designing against his girlfriend’s desire.

Tell me briefly about yourself?

I’m Raphael Odotei Sowah from La. I am an artist, designer and model. I attended Royal Academy at La and proceeded to Tema Secondary School, where I read General Arts and graduated in 2005. I subsequently continued at Takoradi Polytechnic, where I did Graphic Designing.

What was your initial dream when growing up?

When growing up, I had a passion for being an artist. Fortunately, I am an artist now. But it was after secondary school that I developed a passion for fashion designing.

Why an artist?

My granddad was the late Amon Kotei. I used to visit him every Saturday, and he usually took me through the paintings, the art works and his drawings, so I learnt from him. He encouraged me to keep pushing, and assured me that one day I will get there.

It has been challenging in terms of finance because art materials are very expensive in Ghana. Besides, we have very few shops that sell quality art materials for quality jobs.

What’s the most-interesting part of being an artist?

That should be drawing a female figure. Most artists draw their inspirations from female models. The curvature of the female is easy to sketch and inspires you to focus on the work and finish it in time. In other words, it is difficult to sketch a male figure.

But mostly I get my inspirations from nature and God.

Why the decision to be a designer and an artist at the same?

I developed love for fashion designing before I went to Takoradi Polytechnic. There I started designing my T-Shirts and interlacing it with African prints to retell the story of Africa in order to promote African culture and designs.

That’s how my interest for fashion designing started becoming a reality. I have a passion for designing and being an artist. Let’s just say I inherited being an artist from my grandfather and fashion designing is a personal interest or passion.

What have you done so far in the fashion industry?

I have been in the fashion industry for about 7 years now, and I have so many collections. My designs in general go by the design name Srok Designs. Srok is the acronym or initials for my name Sowah Raphael Odotei Kwaku.

I have T-shirts with Africa prints and other free hand and unique quality products. Our shop is located adjacent the Asa Royal Hotel, opposite the Trade Fair at La, Accra. My inspiration, as I said earlier, comes from God and mostly the richness of the African culture.

I have been part of a number of shows, including the Exopa Fashion Café on several occasions. I have also been part of the catwalk for orphans fashion show. I showcased my stuff at the Chalewote Festival, Enzema Hall Week at the Takoradi Polytechnic, and at the Takoradi Polytechnic Fashion Show.

Is the fashion industry worth investing in?

Yes, because it is lucrative. It is giving me a lot of exposure as well. I have met a lot of people, and I have been to a lot of places because of fashion. That’s where I also got the idea of becoming a model alongside designing and being an artist.

It has been a great experience being a designer. I will like to tell people not to give up their dreams. There is nothing like giving up in my dictionary because I have come a long way to giving up.

When I started on campus, everybody thought it was a surviving strategy and that I would give up after school, but later when they saw me on TV some of them were astounded. So never give up and always be prayerful because with God all things are possible.

What experiences have you gained from the platforms you have been on so far as a designer?

It gave me exposure and built my confidence level in terms of speaking in public, talking to my friends and convincing customers to buy my products. When I started, I was so timid and couldn’t talk to clients to buy my stuff. But being on those shows and working at Exopa helped me to gain confidence.

Has anyone discouraged you in the course of your journey as a designer?

Yes, a whole lot of people discouraged me when I started. They always told me; Srok, this thing won’t take you far. Why don’t you stop this?’ Even my girlfriend asked me to quit this job because I had the opportunity to work in a bank. But I turned down the offer.

Do you look up to any fashion designer?

I look up to a lot of people but first and foremost I look up to God in everything. In Ghana, there are great designers like the late Kofi Ansah, Chapter One, and a whole lot of people I look up to.

I intend to continue doing fashion designing to where life will take me because I have come a long way to stop.