Ghanaian designers should combine the country’s cultural heritage with contemporary, commercially viable fashion if they are to establish lasting international brands, media personality and fashion enthusiast Dede Chancelor has said.
Speaking to Daily Graphic after attending this year’s Milan Fashion Week, Chancelor said fashion gave Ghana a powerful way to share its history and traditions with worldwide audiences without losing its identity.
“Being a Ghanaian designer doesn’t mean everything you create must be entirely traditional. There’s so much beauty in blending our heritage with contemporary fashion,” she said.
She urged designers to consider whether their work was attractive, wearable and desirable across different markets, rather than focusing only on its cultural importance.
“Our designs should be wearable, marketable, desirable, and even collectable. We should be creating pieces that people from different cultures would be excited to own and wear,” she added.
Chancelor pointed to Aisha Ayensu of Christie Brown and Nelly Hagan of Duaba Serwa as examples of Ghanaian creativity receiving international recognition. She said their progress was encouraging but called for more global partnerships and brands capable of competing beyond Ghana.
“Ghanaian designers must continue looking beyond our borders, embracing collaborations, and building brands that can compete internationally without losing what makes them uniquely Ghanaian,” she said.
“After all, our culture is part of our identity, but our creativity should have no borders.”
Fashion as cultural exchange
Chancelor said Milan Fashion Week had confirmed her belief that fashion could create interest in cultures unfamiliar to international audiences. As a Ghanaian-American, she said she valued clothing not only for its appearance but also for its ability to introduce people to different traditions and histories.
She recalled seeing models present designs influenced by Ghanaian royal heritage alongside traditional sandals and cultural accessories. The response from the audience, she said, was particularly striking.
“What fascinated me even more was the audience’s reaction. You could see the excitement, the phones coming out, the cameras flashing and people genuinely captivated by what they were seeing,” she said.
“Fashion doesn’t just showcase beautiful clothes; it creates curiosity, encourages appreciation and opens the door to understanding cultures beyond our own.”
Although she welcomed greater cultural representation on international runways, Chancelor said African creatives should take more initiative in pursuing opportunities outside their home markets.
“For me, diversity isn’t simply about waiting to be included. It’s about showing up, supporting one another, collaborating, and creating opportunities to be seen on the world stage,” she said.
She cited Ghanaian designer Victor Hart inviting Kenneth Tetteh to exhibit during Milan Fashion Week as an example of collaboration opening doors.
Individual style and creative work
A collector of rare and archival pieces, including designs by Chanel and vintage Dolce & Gabbana, Chancelor said Milan also strengthened her belief in personal style.
“For me, fashion isn’t simply about owning beautiful things. It’s about the joy of collecting, curating and bringing these pieces to life through my own interpretation of style, often finished with my signature hats,” she said.
“My biggest takeaway was to embrace individuality even more boldly. Milan reminded me that personal style is a beautiful form of self-expression, and there’s no reason to settle for ordinary when you can be extraordinary,” she added.
Chancelor began her broadcasting career at Vibe FM with Michael Cooke and Kojo Mensah before hosting Trackhouse on GTV, co-hosting Smash TV on Metro TV with Jon Germain and presenting Buzz Hit Video on TV3.
She has also provided commercial voice work for Coca-Cola, Lux, Sunsilk, Lipton, Maggi and Standard Chartered.
After moving to the United States, she spent nearly two decades developing business interests, including Authentic Fab, a luxury resale and sourcing company specialising in authenticated designer goods and rare collector pieces.
She is now developing Chancelor Productions, a planned studio covering film, television, digital content, podcasts, fashion and branded lifestyle productions. The venture aims to support African creatives through production, investment and strategic partnerships while developing internationally competitive intellectual property that retains value for its creators.
