Review + Photos: Fashionmaniagh Business of Fashion Conference

Marking the first year anniversary FashionManiaGh promoting and projecting the creativity of African designers and talented models to the world, the team brought together the stakeholders in the fashion industry on July 7, 2013 at Airport View Hotel in a conference dubbed, “THE BUSINESS OF FASHION”.

Over 100 stakeholders participated in the conference which many said is long overdue and they can’t wait to experience more and if possible the organizers should make it a quarterly event.

The conference was divided into three segment; Networking, Interactive (Q & A with panelist) and Lectures from guest speakers.

Lectures Segment:

The first speaker Mr. Francis Amenakpor, Head of department, Fashion Designs and Textiles, Accra Polytechnic speaks on what it takes to own and survive in BUSINESS OF FASHION and various categories of businesses in the fashion industry.

The second speaker Dr. Richard Boateng, Technology Researcher and Lecturer, University of Ghana speaks on SOCIAL MEDIA AND AFRICAN FASHION with major focus on marketing and building a better brand using social media and other platform.

Interactive Segment:

This is actually my favourite part of the night because it gives participants opportunity to pour out their concerns and seek knowledge to issues they have nowhere to channel it to, there is no major body or gathering that give the stakeholders opportunity to meet like this in Ghana.

The panelist for this segment were Dr. Richard Boateng, Mr. Francis Amenakpor, Aya Morrison of Aya Morrison Label, Martha Mawuena of Mawuena Make-Up School and Studio, Ob Abenser of FashionistaGh.com, Nana Tamakloe of FashionGhana.com, Selassie Banini-Artistic Director & Choreographer, Ben Bond of AOB Photography, and Male Model-Ralph Zillary.

Issues such as protecting creation-copyright, Ghana Fashion Week, Working relationship-Partnership, Model and Photographer payment for services, and many other were discussed.

Networking Segment:

The participants also had the opportunity to network and get to know more about each other. Sharing thought and experiences why enjoying drinks and paparazzi of pictures and interview from FashionManiaTV and FashionGhanaTV.

Summary of the night discussion:

The participants discussed and suggested that: The fashion industry needs a point of call; channel/platform where the stakeholders can meet to express a state of heart matter about the industry and pour out their grievances.

Important social gathering like this is very important as well, where the real players in the industry can meet and network for business relationship. Many suggested that team FashionManiaGh should make it quarterly and not yearly celebration of the existence of the blog. Copyright issue- All designers were encourage to copyright their creations if they can afford it but alternatively issue press release to as many as possible media platform for people to Identify them with the creations.

Issue of implementation of strategies was also raised, that concerned issues discussed should get a follow up and not ended up in the conference room.

Some bloggers also expressed their dissatisfaction with some designers who wouldn’t respond to email or call from them unless they read controversial articles about them.

FashionManiaGh team will like to express gratitude to our sponsor Premium African Textile Limited (Owner of Woodin Brand) and other supporting partners; FashionGhana.com, LAAK Consult Ltd, Adentan.com and Ghana Fashion forum by Makeba Boateng. Not forgetting volunteers Adu Amani of Adu Amani Klodin and Jennifer Richlove of Ghana Fashion Awards.