Ghanaian fashion designer weaves the past with the present

DW (English)

Henrietta Agyekumhene uses traditional Ghanaian crochet and macrame techniques to create unique contemporary fashion items.

Transcript

00:00Precise handwork, finely woven, but who can actually still crochet or do macrame today?

00:14Let's get to know how Henriette Jekumhene challenged herself to revive this traditional

00:19technique and others in her designs. My designs are appealing to the modern market even though

00:25the techniques are generations ago. So when you see somebody like me being interested in such a

00:31tedious process, you also get inspired to say that, oh she's doing it, then I can also do it.

00:38Studies have shown that crocheting or doing macrame can have a therapeutic effect,

00:43reduces stress, improve concentration and even alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

00:50But why did Henrietta decide to revive this old-fashioned form of clothemaking and how did

00:56it all start? I love the idea of making things with your hands. Growing up with my grandmothers, I

01:06experienced them make things for themselves and the whole process of making beads, chokers,

01:12and it wasn't something that they even learned, they just used it as a hobby. But growing up to

01:17come and inherit some of these things, it's very exciting to me. I think that macrame, crochet,

01:23and other traditional weaving techniques helps in depression or stress. The whole bit of

01:31turning your hands and threads and cords, it's a very interesting process that requires your

01:37attention and a full mind to the process. And the whole bit of you are working from one line

01:43and then it turns into a second line, then it turns into something that you have in mind that

01:47is turning into like a cloth. I think that's for me the way that it releases stress, anxiety,

01:52and depression. Henrietta, who studied integrated rural arts and industry with a focus on fibers

02:06and fabrics, is holding her first private viewing with Kayadria Experience to showcase new designs.

02:12How would that help her achieve her goal of reviving this tradition? The Kayadria brand has

02:19grown because of how it has modernized already existing traditional techniques. When you touch

02:25your fabrics, you realize that everything is handmade. Now she's one that's speaking the

02:31language of African women, one that is speaking the language of corporate and casual women.

02:36Globally, I believe everybody should be on Kayadria. So the main reason for hosting the

02:42Kayadria Experience is to have an interaction moment. I love community. I think because I work

02:48with artisans and we talk a lot, I've come to really enjoy that company of interaction. Kayadria

02:54has mostly been an online fashion brand and I kind of wanted people to come and have a first-hand

03:01experience and feel of the designs and the materials and the colors are very vibrant.

03:09I also use macramé. You don't use pins, you just use your hands to weave. You can use it to make

03:14lampshades, you can make sandals out of it, you can make clothing out of it. There's so many ways

03:20that you can use macramé for and there's crocheting. We use it for clothing. In Kayadria, this is how we

03:26go about making our products. Heritage pieces are very sustainable due to their timeless design.

03:32Even in two decades, her items will be unique and still fashionable. What is her motivation

03:38to preserve the heritage of the Ghanaian elders? I think these traditional techniques are worth

03:45being revived because everything that is part of our culture and tradition needs to be sustained

03:51and for me in the new generation and as a fashion designer, I think that it's important to always

03:58introduce it. We should never leave something behind, especially if it's important. The thing

04:04is still around, there's a market for it, people are still using it and I think that it's very

04:08important that we start having a new eyes for it and seeing it in a different light. If you don't

04:13have a passion and an interest, like a genuine interest for it, you'll probably give up.

04:18Some of it takes days, hours, intertwining cords and yarns. It's very difficult. It can take you

04:26over a year for somebody to now be able to remember it on their own and say this is the way that we

04:31need to go. When you look at our pieces, they still have the same quality and finishing. So in terms of

04:38pricing, I'm always challenged at why it's coming from Africa. It should be cheap and I think that

04:44we have passed that stage. My goal for using these traditional techniques is to inspire other

04:51creatives, other designers and in that sense open us to a new market. Then the techniques are also

04:57sustained in that aspect and it's traveled on and on and on but when it's stuck here in the same way

05:03that it's still used, then we don't really sustain it. Henrita is determined to give crochet and

05:09macrame a future on the world's catwalk so the traditional handwork remains alive.

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