Modern Fashion Designers Must Upgrade To Meet Current Trends – CEO Of Eddie’s Collection, Edward Perronet Dapaah Tells Designers
A renowned fashion designer based in Kumasi and Chief Executive Officer of Eddies Collection, Edward Perronet Dapaah, has urged fashion designers and seamstresses still operating with old methods to upgrade their skills to meet the demands of the modern fashion industry.
Speaking on Nananom Mmre show on Promise TV, the fashion mogul said the world is now driven by technology and everything is advancing, hence fashion designers cannot continue to do things the old way.
According to him, the comment is not intended to condemn the works of olden days seamstresses, but to emphasize that modern fashion requires innovation, creativity and cultural identity.
“We are in a technological world and everything is advancing. The olden days fashion designers should upgrade themselves to another level. It’s not that we are condemning their works, but we can’t do what they did in the olden days.
We are the modern fashion designers. We give you what is trending in the culture and it easily identifies you and where you are coming from,” he stated.
He explained that in modern fashion, colour combinations and outfits give definitions of the society one finds him or herself and the culture the person represents.
Touching on challenges facing the industry, Mr. Dapaah said one of the most difficult aspects is dealing with some clients who insist on styles that are not feasible.
He noted that as a professional designer, some customers bring styles that demand 5 or 6 yards of fabric but only provide 2 or 3 yards, yet insist the designer must sew it for them.
“Sometimes you can clearly see that the style is not good, but they insist. As a professional, you sometimes have no option than to obey your client, else you will lose them.
They do that because of trends, social media pressure and influence,” he lamented.
He advised customers to sometimes listen to professional advice from designers to ensure they get the best outcome.
The fashion designer also called for a return to societal discipline where elders were allowed to correct youngsters, saying it would help instill decent dressing and cultural values in the youth.
