Ghanaian circular designer Vera Adu Amaning, popularly known as AduAmani, is making strides in the United Kingdom with her fashion exploits.

'Kokoo (Cocoa) 360 Exhibition', her joint project with Adelle A’asante of UK-based company Ese ne Tekyerema CIC, has won a British Council Biennales and Festivals Grant.

The £5,000 granted was awarded to the duo on September 1, 2024 under the British Council’s Architecture Design Fashion (ADF) programme. This initiative offers financial assistance to UK-based designers and architects who take part in international biennales and festivals. 

The programme slated for October 25, 2024 will climax the Chocolate Has a Name Festival which will be held as part of the Calderdale Year of Culture 2024 in Halifax.

The exhibition themed on cocoa, will feature fashion works produced from cocoa jute sacks: materials commonly used to export cocoa.

Items such as bags, shoes, clothing, and jewellery will be made from these sacks. This is to highlight how waste materials can be turned into high-quality fashion products that promote sustainability and circular economies.

Artistic and Creative director Adelle A’asante, of Ese ne Tekyerema CIC, and Vera Adu-Amaning, Circular designer at AduAmani, have collaborated in various ways in making this come to fruition.

"This exhibition is a statement. We are challenging the throwaway culture that has become all too common in fashion. Through the lens of circularity, we're reminding people that the materials we discard can be reimagined into something that transcends waste and becomes a symbol of resilience," says Adelle A’asante.

All fashion pieces for the exhibition are produced in Ghana by AduAmani, accentuating the narratives of cocoa farming communities, while also promoting sustainable fashion and circular economic practices in the fashion industry.

According to her, "the cocoa sacks represent a deeper history of exploitation in the cocoa trade. But through design, we can rewrite the narrative. We are giving these materials new life and, in doing so, creating a new dialogue about the future of fashion."

Both Ese ne Tekyerema CIC and AduAmani are girding up to create beautiful experiences and leave indelible marks on the minds of patrons of 'Kokoo (Cocoa) 360 Exhibition'.

About Ese ne Tekyerema CIC

Ese ne Tekyerema CIC is a UK-based organization dedicated to promoting African arts, culture, and sustainability through innovative projects that connect communities and push the boundaries of creativity.

About AduAmani

AduAmani is a leading Ghanaian circular fashion brand focused on repurposing waste materials into high-quality, sustainable fashion items that celebrate African heritage and craftsmanship.