By Samuel Akumatey
Ho, Sept. 11, GNA – Volta Region’s latest generation of fashion designers made a shocking impression on patrons of the fifth edition of the VVIO fashion show, an exclusive runway event held in Ho on Sunday.
Patrons including industry players, entrepreneurs and political leaders at the event were jaw dropped by designs from some of the most creative minds in fashion in the Region.
Works included highly conceptualised designs, and fashion houses including MAB Designs GH and host VVIO, both Ho-based fashion houses, and who fought to assert dominance.
Themes cut across casual, summer, and wedding, and MAB Designs upended the show with renditions of sophisticated Gothic fashion.
The endless collections by various designers which including fresh graduates of the fashion department of the Ho Technical University, showed growing taste for sewn pieces in the Region, and the world-competitive craftsmanship among the community.
VVIO became was among lead designers at the 2024 competition in Mumbai, India, and Miriam Xorlasi, Ghana’s beauty queen, was the special guest at Sunday’s fashion show.
In a speech, the beauty queen commended VVIO for the dedication towards the expansion of the frontiers of the design industry in the Region.
She called to consider opportunities sustainable fashion as it helps vast opportunities for the youth.
“Fashion is a path to economic empowerment, and your creativity can shape the trends of tomorrow’s future. To the investors, I urge you to support this vibrant industry like VVIO Couture, fashion houses, and young designers in investing in growth.
“With the global rise in sustainable fashion and designs, the possibilities are endless. A special thank you VVIO designs for your incredible craftsmanship and support during the Miss World event. Your attention to detail, cuts and dedication to high fashion were truly instrumental.
“Let’s continue to elevate our fashion industry and empower our youth,” she said, and promising to continuously dedicate ourselves to the promotion of the Region’s potential.
Mr Mawulorm Klutse, an independent parliamentary candidate for Ho was among dignitaries at the event, and said fashion and design bore the sign of the Region’s wealth of skill, therefore all must unite on the growth of the industry.
“For such things to happen in Ho, it means that we have broken the barrier of being stereotyped. It is not an easy thing to have a fashion show in Ho. Not everybody believes that this is an industry worth millions of dollars, and unless we come together, we can’t be able to promote this,” he said.
VVIO won the opportunity to design for the international stage at the sixth Volta Trade and Investment Fair, and Ms. Violet Zunu, the Chief Executive of VVIO Couture, expressed gratitude to the organisers of the Fair; the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), and the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).
She also thanked ATL Fabrics and the beauty queen for the opportunity, adding that the offer secured other international collaborations for the Company.
“VVIO Couture had the golden opportunity to work for Ghana’s Beauty Queen when she represented the country at the Miss World Mumbai 2024. VVIO won the privilege during the Sixth Volta Trade and Investment Fair after we took part in a fashion show organised by ATL Fabrics. We say thank you to the organisers of the Fair and to ATL Fabrics for the great opportunity, and also our Beauty Queen for trusting the home brand.
“I am proud to announce that VVIO also got the opportunity to work with a reputed photographer with the New York Fashion Week. Edem, who a native of Volta saw the work we did for our Beauty Queen and he came down to collaborate. VVIO will feature in some international fashion magazines and we cannot thank Edem enough”.
Ms. Zunu said the second edition of the VVIO Magazine, a high gloss fashion catalogue would be released by the end of the year and was set to promote businesses in the Region.
She used the occasion to make an appeal for production spaces for the industry, saying it a crucial requirement to providing skills in fashion for thousands of youths in the Region.
GNA