1951-2014

Kofi Ansah, founder and past president of the Federation of African Designers was a Ghanaian fashion designer well known for his innovation in the fashion industry.   Ansah studied in the United Kingdom at the Chelsea School of Art.  He graduated in 1979 with a first-class honours degree in fashion design and also bagged a distinction in design technology.

His career in fashion began and he became known for his unique use of African textiles.  His clothes bore a distinctive mark that was always recognizable.  His clientele spanned a wide range of society, celebrities, politicians, and royalty.   He was the costume designer for film and theatre productions and in 1987, worked on designs for the film ‘Cobra Verde’ known also ‘Slave Coast’.  It was a German drama film starring Klaus Kinski.

Ansah in his career was an advocate for the development of the fashion industry in Ghana and Africa.  He was the President of the Ghana Fashion Designers Association.

Ansah received many awards in recognition for his contribution to fashion and design.  This included the Millennium Excellence Award for Fashion Designer of the Year in 2002.  Ansah designed  fabric for the Ghana at Fifty Anniversary celebrations as well as the costumes worn during the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Accra, Ghana.

His legacy truly lives on.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofi_Ansah