Entrepreneurial fashion graduate Akosua creates sustainable jobs for women in Ghana as she establishes her own line of handbags
Posted Friday 30 January 2015
Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, Kingston Fashion graduate with an impressive resume of fashion industry experience, is now director of her own handbag brand – A A K S.
The mission of A A K S is largely to show different forms of weaving in innovative handbag designs, made by inspirational women in Northern Ghana – in turn igniting sustainable jobs.
"The brand stems from a strong understanding of craftsmanship and ethical practices, with a real sense of identity and quality through our production," she states. "Each piece of the collection is unique and tells a story through detail, colour and shape."
Akosua is connected to every stage of the design and production process to oversee and insure that the end result is imbued with the spirit and soul that is worthy of the A A K S stamp.
Akosua attributes much of her knowledge to her time at Kingston University.
She says: "I was the creative one in my family and I didn't enjoy anything else apart from art and design. Enrolling at Kingston University helped me find a balance between thinking creatively and communicating through theoretical design. The tutors were wonderful; especially course director Elinor Renfrew and fashion research tutor Andrew Ibi. They both helped me to achieve a great graduate year collection, by believing in my rather eccentric thoughts from day one and pushing me to never give up."
Akosua's advice to current students at Kingston: "Stay true to yourself especially with your ideas, but also be open to new thinking – such as collaborating with students in different departments. It will bring a new dimension to your work and give you a different edge of professionalism."
