WEAR UG DAY 2024: A Celebration of Sustainable Youth Entrepreneurship in Fashion
Members of the University community have marked Wear UG Day 2024 in grand style. This year’s event featured red carpet and photoshoot sessions, a panel discussion and a fashion show competition.
Speaking on the theme "Wear UG, Wear Ghana: Sustainable Youth Entrepreneurship in Fashion," Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, expressed her excitement about the event and its role in promoting youth entrepreneurship. She emphasised the importance of the day in empowering young people to transform their creativity into economically valuable ventures.
‘Today as we proudly flaunt our beautifully designed 75th anniversary cloth, we use it as a strategy to promote this global brand and to reaffirm our commitment to distinguish ourselves in the higher education space,’ Prof. Amfo noted.
Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, highlighted the importance of creativity, innovation and sustainability in fashion and reiterated the institutionalisation of WEAR UG DAY as an annual event to celebrate Ghanaian culture, heritage and explore opportunities in the fashion industry.
She further added that the celebration of Wear UG Day aligns with the University’s strategic priorities, particularly the ‘Transformative Student Experience.’
The panel discussion held as part of the 2024 Wear UG Day focused on the theme, "Wear UG, Wear Ghana: Sustainable Youth Entrepreneurship in Fashion,".
Beautifully moderated by UG Alumna, Journalist and Seasoned Media Practitioner at Citi FM and Channel One TV, Frema Adunyame, panel members were drawn from academia, the fashion and entertainment industries. They included Dr. Mercy Kuma-Kpobee, Lecturer, Department of Family & Consumer Sciences at UG; Oheneba Yaw Boamah, CEO of Abrantie the Gentleman Clothing; Ms. Awura Abena Agyeman, CEO of Wear Ghana; Mr Kwame Nsiah-Apau (Okyeame Kwame), Musician and Entrepreneur and Mr. Desmond Larkai, CEO of Haven Made.
The engaging and thought-provoking discussions were on ways in which fashion could be made more sustainable, the business side of fashion, the significance of branding in the fashion industry and other relevant topics.
The discussion provided a platform for the panellists to share their respective professional and personal journeys. It also highlighted the importance of establishing a clear identity in the fashion business.
In the words of Ms. Awura Abena Agyeman, “fashion is a powerful tool for expression that helps us speak to issues of identity.” She opined that even though it is not necessary for everyone to be an entrepreneur, having an entrepreneurial spirit is necessary for working in the fashion industry.
On the importance of branding, Oheneba Yaw Boamah emphasised that “branding is a very big problem for many brand owners.” He further underscored the importance of sustainability in the fashion industry, stating, that “Nothing should go waste.”
Contributing to the discussion, Okyeame Kwame defined branding as “What genuine people say about you when you leave the room.” He urged fashion designers to be intentional in relating to the public and their customers.
On her part, Dr. Mercy Kuma-Kpobee indicated UG’s recognition of the growing importance of fashion and mentioned that plans are being put in place to develop academic programmes in clothing and fashion.
Mr. Desmond Larkai noted that the bag-making industry has limitless potential. He was inspired to start his bag company due to the growing demand for bags in Ghana. He encouraged students, stating, "If you are in UG, you are in the right place to start."
The audience had an opportunity to interact with the panel through an engaging Question and Answer session.
One of the highlights of the 2024Wear UG Day was a fashion show competition, that showcased exquisite designs by seven student designers of the University.
At the end of the competition, Samuel Opoku Kwesi Kakra of Phormulla Made It, emerged as the winner, receiving a grand prize of GHS5,000. The first runner-up, Emelia Naa Adjeley Sackey of Teleios Clothing and second runner-up, Bernice Doe of Olive D’s Couture, were also awarded cash prizes of GHS3,000 and GHS2,000 respectively. All the top three winners received plaques, certificates and hampers.
All four other contestants received GHS1,000, a certificate and a hamper each to celebrate their efforts and creativity. Bernice Naadjiama Sackey of Djiama-Gh received a plaque for the most promising designer.
In earlier remarks, Co-Chair of the UG@75 Planning Committee, Prof. Clement Appah, announced that ‘the focus of this year’s celebration was to have a national conversation on fashion. Every year, starting from 2024, we are going to be discussing fashion in a different way.’
A photo booth was mounted at the Cedi Conference Centre with professional photographers taking memorable pictures of members and friends of the University community wearing the 75th anniversary cloth.
UG Campuses and various Social Media Platforms were also set ablaze during this year’s Wear UG Day. Members of the community and friends of the university both in Ghana and abroad, shared stunning photos of themselves in the 75th anniversary cloth on their social media accounts using the hashtag #WEARUGDAY2024.
Please click here to watch a replay of the panel discussion