The Christie Brown Academy (CBA), a groundbreaking initiative reshaping fashion education in Africa, has successfully concluded the pilot phase of its second cohort of emerging fashion entrepreneurs.
Launched in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the program equips African creatives—particularly young women and underrepresented communities—with the tools to thrive in the global
fashion industry.
The grand showcase featured debut collections from graduating students, each reflecting bold creativity,sustainable innovation, African identity, and craftsmanship.
Among the participants were talents from RIOHS College of Design—Ghana’s premier awardwinning fashion school, known for producing industry stars such as Elikem the Tailor, Sarah The Dressmaker, AVONSIGE, Kojo Boadi and Travis Obeng-Casper of AJABENG GH
Following a rigorous selection process, six(6) RIOHS alumni were selected across both cohorts:
- Helena Conduah
- Babra Clement
- Sherrill Ewurabena Ackom-Mensah
- Salamatu Tamaiko Shamsudeen
- Patrick Hackman
Also impressing on the runway was Joy Konanah Amankwah, a current student at RIOHS studying fashion design. However, Joy participated not as a designer, but as a professional model, bringing grace
and presence to the show. In a special moment, Richard Ohene Sika, founder of RIOHS College of Design, was highly acknowledged by Christie Brown for his remarkable contributions to fashion education in Ghana. His
work through RIOHS continues to inspire and prepare young designers to compete on the global stage. The Academy’s mission goes beyond creative training. CBA also teaches participants how to
commercialize their skills and turn classroom knowledge into valuable, market-ready assets.
RIOHS proudly celebrates this milestone as a reaffirmation of its vision to equip talents not only with technical skills but also entrepreneurial purpose.
