Fashion of Monday, 18 June 2012

Source: Adeyemi Adebayo Victor

Meet Project Walkway Ghana Auditions' Judging Panel

In follow up to the Project Walkway Ghana reality show article, readers have poured out their concern to the organizers. Many have felt that the organizer should have either stuck to the original name as created by Heidi Klum which is ‘Project Runway’, by getting the franchise. Majority too have expressed their concern to the organizers to make public requirements what the fashion designers need to bring along. Others have tried reaching out to the organizer that they get to know the credibility of the event thus wanting to know who the judges are. In response, here the organizers have announced the names and briefs on the judges.

Meet your panel of judges; Bertha Owusu, Dzifa Gray, Kennedy Nana Kofi Ansah Frimpong, Aurelia Stacey Ahey, and Immaculata Ewuresi Larbi.

Bertha Owusu (Lead Judge)

Bertha Owusu Bertha Owusu is the CEO/Founder of Project Walkway Ghana. Born into a family of five, Bertha had her nursery, primary and secondary education in Tema and gained admission into University of Ghana. At the university, she studied Psychology and Political science. She had the opportunity to work with Phase 1 model agency and later participated in the regional for Miss Brong Ahafo which led her into Miss Ghana 2000 where she came out as a finalist.

Bertha decided to come up with project walkway as an avenue to express her love for fashion and also to give undiscovered talented fashion designers the platform to share their creativity to the fashion world. This will be an annual event, where at every finale; established fashion brands across Africa will also showcase their brands.



Dzifa Gray

Dzifa Gray Dzifa Gray is the founder, Producer and director of the Dzifa Gray’s Modern Africa Show on BEN TV, (Sky Channel 184) in London, every Saturday at 7PM. The first pilot was in March 2009, Ghana’s 52nd Independence. The Dzifa Gray Modern Africa Show, formally the “Titi Gray Talk Show”, is a TV reality program (show) that focuses on youth development, women issues, relationships and entertainment. It's a chat show focused on positive people and stories from Africa and the African Diaspora.

In 2010, Dzifa was recognized and won the Award ‘Best Imaging Award’ by Women In Enterprise. Dzifa is a very inspirational woman, Dele Onabowu; Nollywood Uncut says ‘the most assiduous UK based African talk show host. The Dzifa Gray Show is not only refreshing to watch, it’s refreshing to be part of.’

The Dzifa Gray Talk Show airs every Saturday on Ben TV (Sky Channel 184) at 7PM in London.



Kennedy Ansah

Kennedy Ansah Kennedy Nana Kofi Ansah Frimpong, affectionately known as NANA by many fashion lovers, is a Fashion Stylist and the Creator and Founder of “Afri-Ken by Nana”, a ready- to- wear and made- to-order fashion brand in Ghana. Graduating with a 1st class (HONS) in Fashion Design, Modeling and Textile Technology from the Accra Polytechnic, Nana is gradually breaking through the Ghanaian fashion industry and the International fashion front as a Haute Couture designer.

His fashion career begun at a very young age and has grown with time. His proudest accomplishment includes winning the MTN Daviva Sew Project in 2009 now known as Ghana Fashion Star. He was also nominated for the Emerging Designer Award during the Ghana Fashion Awards and had the opportunity to work with Franca Sozzani, Chief Editor for Vogue Italia when she visited Ghana in December, 2011.

His designs has aesthetically adorned Ghanaian personalities such as Becca, Akosua Adjapong, Tagoe Sisters, Naa Ashorkor, Jessica Opare, Nana Ama McBrown, Mawena Dumor, Chris Attoh, Shirley Frimpong Manso, Mimi Areme (Miss Ghana 2009), Adole and Nasara.



Aurelia Ahey

Aurelia Ahey Aurelia Stacey Ahey is a Ghanaian supermodel who has been involved in the fashion industry for the past 12 years. In 2004, she participated in Model of the Universe where she won the title "she walk". Since then she has become actively involved in fashion.

She has participated in numerous fashion weeks including Ghana fashion week, Nigeria fashion week, FIMA in Niger and worked with fashion brands such as VLISCO and BEMOD. She loves tribal African prints and everything African- Inspired.



Immaculata Larbi

Immaculata Larbi Ghanaian born designer, Immaculata Ewuresi Larbi is the brain behind the fashion label lifestyle Harmattan.

Her label specializes in ready to wear pieces with her recent collection named African Enchantment infusing refreshing whites, calm blues, energy reds, bold grays and powerful blacks. Her work depicts Cultural strength, an African identity as well as the freedom to be simple but elegant. Urban trends from the gallery depict African and urban cultures as well as the selection of peculiar fabrics which date back to older years.

Watch out for her cropped jackets, harem pants, pillow case dresses with embellished pockets, exquisite drapery and pleats as well as the use of sequins to 'haute' her apparel.