By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), June 21, GNA – Stakeholders have commended the Angel Institute of Fashion and Design for promoting sustainable fashion, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship as the institution marked its 10th anniversary in Ho.
The launch, held on Saturday under the theme, “A Decade of Crafting Skills and Perfecting Precision,” also featured the unveiling of the institute’s Zero-Waste Fashion Collection, school logo and commemorative cloth, alongside a fashion showcase.
Mr Davis Selasie Sunny, entrepreneur and Chairman of the anniversary launch, described the celebration as a demonstration of how fashion could serve as a powerful tool for environmental stewardship and socio-economic development.
“Today’s event is more than a milestone celebration; it is a celebration of creativity, sustainability and responsible innovation,” he said.
He noted that the theme reflected a decade of equipping young people with practical skills while advancing sustainable solutions to contemporary environmental challenges.
Mr Sunny commended the institute’s leadership for pursuing a vision that had created opportunities for skills development, entrepreneurship and social impact.
“As we witness the launch of this programme, the unveiling of the school cloth and logo, and the fashion showcase, let us be reminded that innovation often begins with the courage to see value where others see waste,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would nurture talented designers, inspire future entrepreneurs and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Ms Angel Goka, Proprietor of Angel Institute of Fashion and Design, said the institution was established on December 16, 2016, at Akoefe-Tokor in the Ho Municipality with a single student, Hamdia Mohammed from Tamale, one sewing machine and a dream to train young people in fashion design and production.
She said over the past decade, the institute had trained more than 200 young people in fashion design and event decoration, including beneficiaries of free training programmes sponsored through its “Made by Angel” brand.
Ms Goka said the institute currently had more than 50 students, mostly young women aged between 18 and 30, supported by four qualified trainers.
She said the institution offered courses in decoration, pattern making, garment construction, and a newly introduced batik and tie-dye programme.
“From a small craft centre in 2016 to a full training campus in 2026, this is what a decade of commitment and perseverance looks like,” she said.
Ms Goka disclosed that the institute was constructing a main learning block comprising six classrooms, offices, a hostel and an ultra-modern production room to accommodate its growing student population.
She said the institute previously lost about GHS2,000 monthly because nearly 15 per cent of purchased fabric ended up as waste.
The challenge prompted a shift towards sustainable production following the institution’s participation in the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) training organised by MDPI and GIZ in January 2024.
She added that a five-month capacity-building programme sponsored by GIZ at BlueCrest University in 2025, covering digital marketing, financial literacy and garment technology, further transformed the institute’s operations.
“Today, we utilise up to 95 per cent of every yard of fabric. What was once waste is now transformed into bags, belts, accessories and design details. Every piece has value,” she said.
Ms Goka said the innovation earned the institute victory in the GIZ Sustainable Fashion Competition organised by BlueCrest University in December 2025, demonstrating that zero-waste fashion was practical, profitable and scalable.
As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, she said the institute had launched its first Zero-Waste Fashion Collection to showcase the integration of fashion, creativity, innovation and sustainability.
She noted that the school had also undertaken a community intervention project, including a photoshoot at the Ho Market on June 17, 2026, during which free aprons were distributed to market women.
Ms Goka said the institute now had the capacity to train 20 additional young people in zero-waste production techniques, helping to create employment opportunities while protecting the environment.
She appealed to sponsors and development partners to support the completion of the learning block and expand opportunities for more young people.
“Together, we can turn waste into wealth, creativity into empowerment and fashion into a force for change,” she said.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu