This year’s Rhythms On Da Runway has been launched with a call on designers to take instruction from the theme, Kente Edition.
Kente is a Ghanaian textile made of hand-woven strips of silk and cotton. With its rich history and timeless beauty, it represents the heritage of Ghana and the spirit of African creativity. It is a symbol of craftsmanship, sustainability, and tradition.
Speaking at the launch held at the Silver Star Towers on Saturday September 21, Producer and Creative Director of Rhythms On Da Runway, Yvonne Ocloo said, for over a decade, this event has been a celebration of the powerful intersection between fashion, culture, and music.”
She stressed that from its humble beginnings, Rhythms on the Runway has evolved into Africa’s largest cultural extravaganza, as recognized by the BBC, and has grown into a platform that amplifies the voices of African designers and artists across the globe.
Yvonne Ocloo further noted that “this year, we take our mission forward by centering the conversation around one of Africa’s most iconic and sustainable fabrics—Kente.”
She urged designers to draw inspiration from the ancient wisdom of Kente weavers to create collections that are groundbreaking and sustainable.
“For this edition, we challenge designers to draw inspiration from the ancient wisdom of our Kente weavers, creating collections that are both groundbreaking and sustainable. Just as Kente weaving has stood the test of time, so too should our commitment to responsible fashion,” She said.
As the country gears up for elections, she charged everyone to learn from the beautiful unity seen in Kente cloth. “Dear Ghana, lets emulate the beautiful unity we see in the Kente cloth! A robust tapestry of beautiful unity,” she said.
According to her, this year’s edition will be an exciting series of activities that celebrate not only the beauty of African fashion but also the immense talent that exists within the continent and beyond.
Touching on activities ahead of the main event, she revealed that “5th October, we will host our casting, bringing together the most talented models ready to light up the runway.”
Additionally, she added that “26th October will see our Industry Night, a special evening of networking and collaboration within the fashion and music industries.”
“14th November will feature the birth of yet another innovation where we take thought leadership at a unique Forum, THE ORANGE Roundtable,” she announced.
Yvonne Ocloo said this conversation with designers, fashion schools, creative minds, will focus on the sustainability of the sector.
All of these would be crowned on November 30, with the Main Event, a night of unforgettable fashion, music, and cultural celebration at the Grand Arena.
Surprisingly, she announced that this year’s event might be the final year to organize an in-person launch event, “As we move forward, embracing technology and digital platforms, we are shifting toward virtual experiences to reach even wider audiences.”
“This decision has been a tough one to take but due to the challenge of accessing the financial support needed to sustain large-scale creative arts projects like Rhythms on the Runway, we must do the needful.
According to her it’s a struggle that so many in the creative industries face, and it compels them to adapt and evolve.
“Despite these challenges, we remain committed to our vision of elevating African art and culture, and we will continue to innovate and push boundaries. However, this shift highlights the urgency for more committed support for creative arts in Africa,” she added.
