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| Nana modeling for Real Hair Campaign |
We interview the Top Model of Colour UK, Nana Afua Antwi about her fashion label Adopted Culture
Adopted Culture at Fashions Finest
Model Mayhem Model Page Twitter
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| Nana wearing Adopted Culture mini frock |
PROFILE OF ADOPTED CULTURE DESIGNS
Adopted Culture theme ideas was inspired from John Galliano, Kofi Ansah and Leigh Bowery, quite fascinated especially with Galliano's trend on how he depicts different cultural textiles and style it up to make a dress, it really inspired the whole concept and theme ideas. Kofi Ansah ideas was also a big influence in this designing piece as more of adopted culture trends has to do with colorful pallets which normally reflects his designs as well.
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| Adopted Culture, Africa Fashion Week |
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| Adopted Culture, AFW London |
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| Adopted Culture, AFW London 2 |
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| Adopted Culture, AFW London 3 |
Adopted Culture has positive vibe with a funky twist as well as theatrical inspiration from Leigh Bowery which is going to go a long way in the fashion industry with its upcoming designs. The collection ranges from sizzling evening wear to couture, promoting fashion through unity with different cultural style and designed for today's woman to embrace curves and appreciate their wonderful body in every style.
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| Adopted Culture, AFW London 4 |
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| Adopted Culture, AFW London 5 |
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| Adopted Culture, AFW London 6 |
London Guru: We should start with the Ghana UK Based Achievers awards (GUBA), how was the night? Were you nominated for anything or presenting an award?
Thank you yes! I was nominated for Rising Star Award it was such a honour. A fantastic event with celebrities from the film, fashion, sports and music industry supported by the Ghana High Commissioner.
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| Nana at GUBA Awards 2011 |
London Guru: Nana, apart from being a designer you were also the Top Model of Colour in 2010, how has your reigning year been for you?
Oh my God! Its been incredible, I have done so much this year that I didn’t expect from gracing every fashion and hair Magazine to campaigns with loads and loads of interviews. It is such a dream come true and there’s still more to come!
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| Nana on Cover of Black Hair |
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| Nana on Cover of 601 Magazine |
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| Nana on Cover of E'LON |
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| Nana on Cover of TIYA Mag |
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| Nana on Cover of Afro Pulp |
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| Nana on Cover of 601 TV |
London Guru: You have just have just had the finals of Top Model of Colour (TMC) 2011, about 2 weeks ago, how was the evening and how strong was the talent?
The show was on point as always. Mahogany productions deliver excellent shows in the UK, this year’s TMC welcomed brilliant aspiring models, Male and Female, and they had quite unique looks. The Talent was of good standard as I saw so much potential in the models in becoming the next big thing. Congratulations to the new winners as it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.
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| Nana "rocking" high fashion |
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| Nana bringing high fashion elegance |
London Guru: You have been a familiar face in the awards scene this year as a designer and model. Run us through your nominations and wins in 2011.
Oh Wow! This year has been such a blessing, I did attend numerous award events and got nominated for four awards I was nominated for Beffta Awards for Best Female Model and Best Female Designer and I won Best Female Model, I was selected for the Award of Excellence by M&M Awards for Model of the Year , Nominated for Ghana UK Based Achievers Awards for Rising Star and Ghana Fashion Awards for Best Model and finally I had an Award as an Ambassador in my role as Top Model of Colour UK.
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| Adopted Culture on the catwalk 1 |
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| Adopted Culture on the catwalk 2 |
London Guru: When did you come up with your concept for Adopted Culture and how did you make it come to life?
The name Adopted Culture popped into my heard from nowhere when I was deep in thought for a theme title during my last graduation project in Sept 2009 (London College of Fashion). I have always been inspired by ethnic and western fashion and wanted something different I passed on the name to my tutor Lesley Ford and she loved it. That’s how ‘Adopted Culture’ was born!!
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| Model wearing Adopted Culture 2 |
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| Model wearing Adopted Culture 1 |
London Guru: So what does the name Adopted Culture mean to you?
Adopted Culture is designed to embrace different style of fashion in one piece I have always thought how nice it will be to see various original fashion styles put together in unison, translating a different language in fashion. That’s what it meant to me and am happy I was able to bring that to life doing my showcase at Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL).
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| Adoped Culture on Catwalk |
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| Adopted Culture, Nana doing the honours |
London Guru: What fashion icons inspire you?
I love Chloë Sevigny she simply knows how to sell a dress and Sonia Rykiel is an amazing designer.
London Guru: When you create a garment what goes through your mind. Lead us through your creative process.
It such an exciting feeling whenever I am working on a garment as am always looking forward to the outcome. I start my process first by sketching fashion roughs and develop on my ideas, create my colour pallet and then bring the garment to life and make it a reality. I love colours it’s my first priority, I have to ticket that box first when creating my collections, the choices depend on the fashion concept.
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| Sketch for Adopted Culture ball gown |
London Guru: How do you put your chosen colours and materials together?
I must say its always hard when blending colours with materials most of my colour and material selection run through a visual evaluation, where I imagine it and sketch it simultaneously. More importantly I normally harmonize both colour and material to bring out the best results.
London Guru: What market are you targeting with your fashion line?
Good question I am targeting International global fashion market
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| Adopted Culture Press 1 |
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| Adopted Culture Press 2 |
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| Adopted Culture Press |
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| Adopted Culture Press |
London Guru: Am I correct in saying that Adopted Culture has a familiar trend using Kente cloths and spirals, but you vary it by using a wide range of colors and design concepts in your lines?
Adopted Culture is a brand that celebrates original background fashion. Each trend has an idea behind it. This year I did the evening/bridal A\W 2011 and the S/S 2011, which was the Kente collection for summer. The whole idea of using real Kente was to potray the rich colour of the Ghana’s original traditional fabric in the international market by constructing it into a casual funky trend which can be worn globally. The spiral motif on the label is a signature with a meaningful origin.
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 1 |
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 2 |
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 4 |
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 2 |
London Guru: So when a woman is looking for something suitable to wear in your collection, how should they choose the outfit most suitable for them?
I am glad I came out with an idea of designing a trend that celebrates women of all shapes. My collection by kind courtesy of Fashion’s Finest is available on their website boutique to select which oufits are suitable. Normally its best to contact me directly for advice depending on your body shape.
London Guru: Which personalities so far has won your designs?
At the Moment I haven’t had anyone worn my outfits as they are not on sale yet but I must say it was an honour to make a dress for Sinem Bilanjo Editor for Fab Magazine and Shingai Shoniwa from the Noisettes. Shingai Shoniwa has shown much interest in my collection at the Screen Nation Awards this year.
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| Nana wearing Adopted Culture at Screen Nation Awards |
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| Shingai Shoniwa at Screen Nation Awards |
London Guru: How long does the preparation of a season’s collection take?
Wow preparation for a season collection takes a while all depending on the team behind you, my experience has been tough as am just starting and its been really difficult financially doing it all by yourself and sometimes you can lose a lot if you don’t make sales.
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| Adopted Culture, beach wear |
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| Adopted Culture, beach wear 2 |
London Guru: Where did you showcase 2011 and what are your plans for the line in 2012?
This year I showcased at the Mahogany Bridal Show in March, Afro Hair and Beauty Show in May, Fashion’s Finest show in June, Africa Fashion Week London in August, London Fashion Week in September with Fashion’s Finest and the 1st Annual Ghana UK Fashion show November 27th. In 2012 I would love to showcase at the main London fashion Week that will be brilliant.
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 5 |
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 6 |
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 7 |
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| Adopted Culture Bridal 8 |
London Guru: Adopted Culture was featured on Vogue’s Fashion Night Out 2011 in London. Congratulations how did that incredible honour come about?
OH Yes! It was an amazing opportunity! I got a phone call from the Director of Fashion’s Finest who was sending off emerging designers for selection to Vogue Fashion’s Night Out. They wanted emerging designers to showcase at Sartoria Bar on the world famous Saville Row. When I learnt that my collection was picked for Vogue’s Fashion Nigh Out, I was speechless and shocked. It was a dream come true to be the first ethnic “young” designer to have designs gracing Saville Row a few yards from the Oswald Boateng shop. Vogue added to this great experience by featuring the article (with Adopted Culture) on their website, which was my biggest highlight.
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| Adopted Culture, VOGUE Fashion Night Out, Saville Row1 |
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| Adopted Culture, VOGUE Fashion Night Out, Saville Row2 |
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| Adopted Culture, VOGUE Fashion Night Out, Saville Row3 |
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| Adopted Culture, VOGUE Fashion Night Out, Saville Row4 |
London Guru: What do you want ladies to feel like when they wear your designs?
Ladies should feel elegant and fierce as ‘adopted culture is a design label for you to strut yourself in.
London Guru: What would you say to aspiring designers who want to follow in your footsteps?
Never rush with your designs take your time and produce a masterpiece!
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| Nana showcasing Adopted Culture at Fashions Finest |
London Guru: Even with your busy schedule you have also had the time to become a philanthropist. You have founded the Akosua ODe Foundation. Tell us what is the mission of this charitable foundation and why did you create it?
The foundation means a lot to me as it it’s named after my late Mother. Yes it’s been quite difficult juggling Modeling, Designing with Charity to start with, so I plan to do more work to set up the charity next year. I was inspired to start the charity after a news release on the BBC of a tragic incident in Ghana that killed over 15 young women working on a local mining site when it collapsed. The research I did showed the women who died were mostly single mothers. I could relate to that as its close to me, my Mother was also a single mum before she passed away. So the first thing that hit my mind was “who will be responsible for their children?” And I also asked myself “what can I do to assist young women out there in Ghana and the rest of Africa facing such harsh lives?”. The mission of the charity is to aid these women to becoming self independent through training and support, and to work decently for their own health and safety. Ultimately to live and carter for their young ones.
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| with an African celebrity |
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| On BEFFTA TV with Pauline Long |
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| with Pageant winners |
The plan for the foreseeable future of the Akosua Ode Foundation is to formally launch the charity and put the word out there. Also to promote my vision and our mission statement, our mission is to see the charity reach a high success and creating a huge impact in people’s lives.
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| Nana at Anya Wilkinson show, London Fashion Week |
BIOGRAPHY OF DESIGNER Nana Afua Antwi, current Top Model of Colour UK founder and creator ‘adopted Culture’ fashion brand and Akosua Ode Foundation . She is originally from Ashanti Ghana known to be one of the top African emerging models in the UK and definitely the one to watch. Ever since crowned the winner for Topmodel of Colour UK it’s been one of her greatest achievement to beat over 3200 applicants to make it to the top of such a well known Model competition for models of Colour and within one year in the modelling Industry she’s got massive exposure and has been a great inspiration for young upcoming models. She was featured on the Voice 6 times continuous spread and has been the upcoming front cover for black fashion and Lifestyle Magazines in the UK. She is also studied Art and Design and now specializing in fashion.
Nana Afua, was highly inspired about aiding Young Single Women living harsh lives in Ghana and Africa after watching a documentary footage on BBC News of women who lost their lives after a local mine collapsed. She wanted to reach out to these women and used it at a platform to win Top Model of Colour UK which has given her the channel to raise more awareness on this campaign. We hope you will also be part of this project to help promote the charity to higher levels.
THE MANY LOOKS OF NANA AFUA ANTWI
Nana Afua Antwi - Photo Shoot for Natural Hair Extensions by Diva Natural Hair
