Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
Our attention has been drawn to a story circulating online with the headline “I’m the best fashionista in Ghana now – Benjamin kontoh brags”, which was published by senaradioonline, African entertainment.com, kobbykyeinews.com and other websites, on 19th November, 2020.
This is not the true reflection of the interview granted by Benjamin Kontoh, CEO of Brush and Saucy Bespoke.
Kontoh acknowledges the major role fashion designers and stakeholders are playing in the industry and would want to state categorically that the writer misquoted him.
Mr Kontoh only emphasized on our local designers improving the quality and finishing so their products could compete with international brands”When asked what could be done for the local designers to also go international”
He advised the local designers in creating garments that could be attractive to other races and nationalities since fashion is a universal language “we shouldn’t focus on creating only “ethnic” clothing,creative directors should employ cross-over technique to create hybrid garments which has both our traditions elements and western elements do it could be competitive and attract foreign markets.
He also emphasized on the need for the government to pay better attention and invest into the fashion industry because the industry is $billion-trillion dollar industry annually.
He also stressed the need for improved fashion education and an opportunity for Ghanaian fashion students and professional designers to be able to travel abroad to get more exposure and knowledge to improve on their craft.
Mr Kontoh also said, “it will interest you to know that fashion designer like Brommon,Kofi Okyere Darko, Chocolate,Abrantier the gentleman,Pishtish and other designers are making great impact in the fashion industry in Ghana”
He therefore challenged Ghanaian designers to work hard to put Ghana on the international map of top designers in the world.
“With Ghanaian heritage i respect and look up to these two, Oswald Boateng and Virgil Abloh(founder and creative director of Off-white and the creative director of Louise Vuitton men’s line.
Below are excerpts from the interview which was rightly published in the Graphic Showbiz on 19th November, 2020:
Fashion designer Benjamin Kontoh revels in achievements
Chief Executive Officer of Brush and Saccy Bespoke, a fashion brand in United Kingdom and China Benjamin Kontoh, has stated that he is the best in the industry in Ghana today.
According to him, fashion designers in Ghana do not produce quality fashion outfits compared to foreign ones.
In an interview after his participation in Rhythms On Da Runaway show held on Saturday November 14, in Accra, Benjamin said ” My show was the best and the talk of town,the crowd was overwhelmed with my garment collection, choreography,runway music.It was a beautiful sight to see the reaction and faces of the crowd.
They nicknamed Victoria Michaels “Angel Michaels” and me “Benny with the wings”. A couple of celebrities like Chester, Steven Appiah, Coded 4X4, Abrantier the gentleman, Elikem the tailor, Cookie-Tee, Reggie Rockstone’s wife and the founder of Rhythms On Da Runway himself K.O.D among countless others came to congratulate me after my show and stated it was the best on the night among the 13 other designers who participated in the show.
Rhythms On Da Runway Benjamin Kontoh’s debut runway show in Ghana and he featured Ghanaian – Nigerian international, Victoria Michaels, actor James Gardener TV personality, Cookie T and Ohemaa of GhOne, Sundiata, Miss Universe Ghana 2019 among other top and amateur models.
Benjamin who has over 18 years in the fashion industry in Ghana and abroad also added that, Ghanaians have accepted fashion and what needs to be done now is to improve on the quality of garments and finishing so our local brands could compete with international brands.
” Our target market competition must be international and not only local. Our fashion industry must be known in Africa and the world,” he added.
He revealed that, through him, Ghanaian and other African fashion designers and student designers have had the opportunity to showcase their work on national level and fashion weeks.
Adding, he founded the “Shanghai Black Fashion Week in China,to support designers of African decent who didn’t have the resources and means to be on Shanghai Fashion Week.”
I also had the opportunity to work with top brands like Bentley, Maserati, BMW,Lincoln,Mini Cooper and the prestigious W hotels.
Benjamin Kontoh urged the government to invest in and respect the industry as it could bring huge revenues and offer job opportunities to the youth.
Follow @benjaminkontoh @brushandsaccy on all his social media handles and mobile/whatsApp 0591928410.
