Rex Omar Leads Black Star Fashion Week to Spotlight Ghana’s Fashion Talent

Ghana is set to take the spotlight in fashion, culture and the creative economy as the maiden Black Star Fashion Week (BSFW) prepares to bring together designers, creatives, investors, industry players and fashion enthusiasts for a two-day national fashion experience.

The initiative is aimed at discovering emerging talent, creating opportunities for players in the fashion industry and showcasing Ghanaian creativity to audiences beyond the country.

The event is being organised under the Presidency-backed Black Star Experience Secretariat, led by the  Presidential Staffer for the Black Star Experience, Rex Omar, playing a key role in the initiative.

The programme is being supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and its agencies, including the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Creative Arts Agency.

Black Star Fashion Week will unfold through two connected experiences in Accra and Senchi, moving from industry discussions and talent discovery to a major fashion and cultural celebration.

The first day of the programme is scheduled for November 4 in Accra, where the Black Star Fashion Summit will take centre stage.

The summit will provide a platform for designers, fashion entrepreneurs, creatives, industry leaders, investors, buyers, manufacturers, policymakers, media practitioners and other stakeholders to engage in discussions about the future of Ghana’s fashion industry.

The programme will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, fireside conversations, masterclasses, industry presentations and practical workshops.

Key areas to be explored include entrepreneurship, branding, digital marketing, textile innovation, manufacturing, fashion finance, export readiness, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, sustainability and intellectual property.

The summit is expected to provide participants with opportunities to exchange ideas, develop new skills, build industry connections and explore avenues for expanding Ghanaian fashion locally and internationally.

A major highlight of the Accra programme will be the 16-Region Designer Programme, which will bring emerging fashion talents from across Ghana onto one national platform.

Each participating designer will be required to develop a creative fashion interpretation inspired by their respective region.

Their presentations will draw on the identity, culture, heritage, local materials, craftsmanship and contemporary design language of the regions they represent.

At the end of the Accra programme, five designers will be selected from the participants.

One of the five finalists will then progress to the flagship fashion show at Senchi, allowing the selected designer to present on the major Black Star Fashion Week platform.

The second day of the programme will take place at Royal Senchi on November 7, where the Black Star Fashion Show and Experience will be held.

The Senchi programme will extend beyond the traditional runway, with a Fashion Village forming part of the overall experience.

The Fashion Village will feature designer showcases, retail, textiles, artisan experiences, brand activations, beauty, technology, food and beverage, tourism and lifestyle experiences.

The event will also showcase the relationship between fashion and Ghana’s broader cultural identity.

Visitors will experience elements of Ghanaian music, dance, textiles, craft, food, storytelling, heritage and visual arts, creating a wider celebration of the country’s creative and cultural heritage.

Black Star Fashion Week will also recognise outstanding contributors to Ghana’s fashion ecosystem.

The event will provide opportunities for designers and creative businesses to connect with buyers, investors, manufacturers, retailers and other industry stakeholders through networking and business engagements.

The organisers are positioning the initiative not only as a fashion showcase but also as a platform for talent development, industry collaboration and commercial opportunities.

The Black Star Experience (BSE) is a Government of Ghana initiative focused on culture, arts, tourism and creative engagement.

As a national, year-round platform, it brings together Ghana’s cultural, artistic, tourism and creative offerings with the broader objective of strengthening Ghana’s identity and promoting the country as a preferred global destination.

The initiative also seeks to position Ghana as a leading cultural and creative capital of Africa.