Obroni Wawu festival exceeds expectation
The second edition of Obroni Wawu October (OWO) came off at the Rawlings Park in Accra last Sunday with more than what the organisers had promised ahead of the event.
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Unlike the maiden edition which was a day’s event, this year’s festival was preceded with build-up events earlier in the week.
In Ghana, ‘Adeɛyi’ (itinerant tailors) have long been part of the fashion industry due to the role they play in altering, repairing and remodelling clothes and this year’s theme, “The Adeɛyie Resurrection” was a call to return to our roots, protect the environment and embrace sustainable fashion.
Attendees, mainly young people arrived in fancy second-hand clothing and accessories in line with the theme.
There were side conversations on the importance of promoting the second-hand fashion industry and why people must be encouraged to reuse, repair or transform old or waste clothes into new designs.
Traders from the Kantamanto Market, the country’s biggest second-hand clothes market and other upcycle designers had the opportunity to display and sell their clothes and accessories at the event.
There were exciting performances and musical interludes, but it was the OWO runway show and the “drip contest” that excited guests the most.
With organisers announcing a cash prize for the guest with the most exclusive fashion sense ahead of the event, most attendees came in ready to show their unique second-hand designs.
In addition to the GH¢2,000 cash which was presented to the winner of the drip contest, the first and second runners-up were presented with GH¢1000 and GH¢500 respectively.
When models hit the runway to showcase what this year’s designers from Kantamanto had created after a few weeks of coaching, guests were blown away.
There were pieces made from second- hand socks, denim, old leather, used bed sheets, curtain hooks, old fabrics, calabash, woven mats, fur and other materials from Kantamanto which are usually left at dump sites or burnt.
Reflecting on the growth of the event, the founder of Obroni Wawu October, Sammy Oteng said, “Last year was a smaller event, but this year’s event is about three times bigger.”
He also highlighted the importance of the festival as a source of employment in a country grappling with unemployment.
A stylist and vintage online thrift shop owner, Foya, praised the organisers for their remarkable efforts and looked forward to participating again in the future.
