Fashion Industry needs financial boost

INTERNATIONAL fashion model and Creative Director of BB Boutique Belinda Baidoo has called for financial support from government and private investors to rejuvenate Ghana’s fashion industry.

The financial support has become necessary because the fashion sector, despite its potential, remains stifled by inadequate funding and neglect, preventing it from attaining global recognition.

Speaking exclusively to Graphic Showbiz recently, Ms Baidoo emphasised the critical role the fashion industry plays in job creation, revenue generation and overall economic development. She highlighted the potential of the fashion value chain from raw material production to retail to make a significant economic impact if adequately supported. 

“The fashion industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the country, yet it continues to face neglect. This is an industry that can provide employment and boost economic growth if the right attention is given to it,” she said.

The model, who has worked with top international brands such as Nike, Victoria’s Secret, Giorgio Armani and Guinness, attributed the industry’s stagnation to a lack of financial support from both government and private stakeholders.

She urged the government to waive some of the burdensome taxes on fashion imports and provide funding for local manufacturers, designers and retailers to ease them of some of the financial weight. 

“We need funds. The government needs to pour funds into fashion. What we overlook is what some of us have dedicated our whole lives to. We need to support the creative side of the industry. The women at Makola, the local manufacturers, the very people who import these items for mass production and the entrepreneurs striving to grow their businesses—these are the people who need help. “When tourists visit Ghana, they shop everywhere, not just in fancy stores. Supporting these local players is crucial if we want to see growth in our industry just like what is happening elsewhere,” she added.

Source: Edith Mensah