AAKS
AAKS bags are sought after around the world. We talk to the founder to discover her inspirations and aspirations.
When did you first have the idea to use these Ghanaian weaving techniques in high end fashion?
I grew up around basket bags as a child in Ghana, I used to give them as gifts and also use them for storage. I remember having a lot of ‘I wish it was more like this, I wish it was more like that’ moments… I wanted it softer, almost foldable and also more colourful with blends of colours which were tasteful and modern with a beautiful finish and detail.
Building on this idea I started researching into bag designs and fibres and found a lot of attractive benefits which were in line with my vision and ethos I had for my dream brand. I established AAKS after seeing a gap in the market for beautifully handcrafted bags. I knew I wanted to go out on my own and pull together all my passion and talents to create something unique that would be fulfilling both personally and professionally so I embarked on my journey to Ghana to make this happen.
What were the challenges for producing the bags in the way that you wanted?
It was challenging at the start to identify the community that could bring my ideas to life, then when I stumbled across the community of weavers with the right skill set we couldn’t communicate due to a language barrier. Weavers only spoke a local language FraFra, I had to use drawings and hand gestures at the start and later found an interpreter. This challenge was overcome quickly when I started learning the language from the weavers and we are having a joy of a time working together in the community.
AAKS bags have appeared all around the world and in fashion magazines. What do you think accounts for its success?
I think its believing in my self, my crazy ideas and also having a great branding and branding team that could see my vision from early on and guiding me in the right steps which now appeals to a broad international market.
What can we expect from your next collection?
Colour and more colour. I would love to continue pushing the boundary of Made in Africa products with my new collection and diversifying soon into the home interiors.
Details
Address:
Elle Lokko
Lokko House,
Osu
Accra
Website: aaksonline.com
Contact:
024 441 8477
Opening hours:
Open 9am-6pm Mon-Fri; 10am-3pm Sat
