Kofi Ansah (1951- 2014) was
an award winning Ghanaian fashion designer, who was a pioneer in promoting modern
African styles and design on the international stage. Ansah was born into an
artistic family and his interest in art and design was encouraged by his
father, a photographer and a classic musician. Ansah studied at Chelsea school
of arts graduating with first class honours degree in fashion design and
distinction in design technology.
He
initially made his name working on the United Kingdom fashion scene- he had
first made early headlines on his graduation when he made a beaded top for
Princess Anne, he then returned to Ghana in 1992 where he set up and ran the
successful design and creative concept company called ARTDRESS. There he
trained a lot of designers and models, whom today are every successful in their
individual fashion and modelling brands. He was the founder and past president
of the Federation of African Designers. Characteristics of his style were the
use of quilting, embroidery, applique and details. He was creative and innovative;
he was accredited with the changing face of the Ghanaian fashion landscape.
Ansah won the prestigious Ghana quality
awards diamond division October 2003, for clothing and textile with Artdress
Ltd and his company was the winner of the Millennium 2000 African Fashion
Awards. He also designed the anniversary fabric for the Ghana at 50 Golden
Jubilee Celebration. He designed costumes for the opening and closing
ceremonies of the 2008 African Cup of Nation staged in Ghana.
He died at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, aged
62 on 3rd May 2014.
By: Frederick Aryee
