A A K S produces raffia bags handmade by a women’s cooperative in Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana. The brand produces luxurious handmade accessories using ethical processes and age-old craft traditions, which are not often seen beyond the borders of Ghana. However Ghanaian fashion designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi wants the world to see how luxury and quality can grow from traditional designs and is using A A K S handcrafted bags to change perceptions of Africa through fashion.
Against all the odds A A K S is a brand that seeks to showcase the unlimited possibilities for the fashion and textile industries in Ghana. Using skills and techniques that are unique to this part of Ghana, craftsmanship is the foundation of this luxury brand. It takes approximately one week to complete a handbag, which attests to an unwavering dedication to modern style and interpretations using traditional methods. Made by hand each bag bears the fingerprints of the person who fashioned it and a signature tag is added to prove authenticity.
The brand tells an exciting story of Ghana, offering a different perspective of Africa as a whole. The visual inspiration behind every design is reflected through the images of Ghana and the crafters as they create these handbags shared by Akosua on social media. She is building an African brand ethically and conscientiously one handbag at a time.