EXODUS Collection: Akosua Redefining Fashion Through the Lens of Hip Hop and Diaspora

HELP CORPORATION, doing business as eHELPbrands and the creative force behind the Akosua brand, is set to make a significant impact with the unveiling of its second-year collection.

After a sensational debut at the Kumasi Fashion Week Runway Show in May 2023, Akosua is poised to make a comeback at the same event in May 2024. Additionally, she is scheduled to appear at the esteemed New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in September 2024, which will be held at the Sony Theater in New York City.

The EXODUS Collection: A Cultural Odyssey Revolutionizing Fashion

This year’s collection, “EXODUS: 50 Years of Diaspora, Hip Hop, and Fashion,” offers a riveting exploration of time and culture. Each runway ensemble symbolizes a decade, inspired by the diaspora of African peoples during the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

This year’s showcase is a deep reflection of Akosua’s 50-year personal odyssey between Ghana and America. It will revive the U.S. celebration of 50 years of hip-hop through iconic fashion staples, masterfully merging classic hip-hop styles, Akosua’s upbringing, ingrained cultural elements, historical milestones, and contemporary trends.

The showcase invites you to experience the rich tapestry of stories told through fashion, celebrating life, diversity, culture, and knowledge, and sharing the essence of Beyond the Return.

Sustainable Fashion Takes Center Stage

The collection transcends mere aesthetics by incorporating sustainable elements, including handcrafted batik, tie-dye, cowrie shells, brass, and recycled jewelry, as well as eco-friendly luxury leather bags, hats, and slides.

Key Highlights of the Event:

Sustainable Leather Debut: Akosua is poised to make a bold statement with the introduction of ethical leather. This innovation in upcycled luxury leather, dyed with natural pigments, is in line with Akosua’s commitment to crafting unique runway couture that weaves ancestral artisanship and environmental awareness into each creation.

Pan-African Sophistication: Each piece narrates the elegance of Pan-African heritage, infused with a contemporary flair. Moreover, every item boasts kente labels, meticulously handwoven and stamped in Kumasi, as a tribute to Akosua’s Asante heritage.

Global Collaboration:

Akosua’s odyssey from Adansi Praso, Dompoase, and Kumasi in Ghana to New York exemplifies the brand’s worldwide influence. Yet, she doesn’t rest on her laurels. Akosua has elevated her collection by unveiling a limited edition graphic white tee, dubbed the “hip-hop T-shirt.”

Adorned with graffiti and a typographic depiction of Africa, this vintage tee is a tribute to the U.S. hip-hop fashion of the 80s and 90s, blending it with the vibrant modern-day Afrobeats music of Africa.

The social enterprise aims to collaborate with Ghanaian organizations that leverage contemporary Afrobeats to empower the youth and foster a fusion of traditional and modern art cultures. These partnerships, both local and international, culminate in a collection that surpasses geographical boundaries.

Celebrating Artisanal Craftsmanship and Community Impact

Akosua represents more than a brand; it stands as a cutting-edge emblem of Pan-African elegance. Crafted in Ghana, this brand is anchored in traditional artisanry, working in partnership with local artisans to promote sustainability and empower communities by creating job opportunities.

Akosua’s designs, ranging from recycled plastic accessories to the versatile Ghana-Must-Go bags, stand as a tribute to social responsibility. Each purchase supports Ghanaians in improving their quality of life, reflecting a dedication to social impact and the production of responsible goods. Her fashion crosses the boundaries of time, culture, and geography.

The EXODUS collection embodies Akosua’s dedication to transforming fashion by marrying luxury with environmental stewardship and societal influence. Celebrating its second anniversary, the brand is poised to grace the NYFW runway with a presentation that surpasses limits, intertwining heritage, culture, and ecological consciousness.