African prints: Favourite choice of women, Daily Graphic

With the evolution of fashion, the African textile is gradually gaining grounds as young women and even men have made it the most fashionable of the times.
Some years ago, the African textile was solely used to sew the traditional Kaba and slit. But today, the African print is used to make the simplest to the most elegant outfits and other wares due to its texture, inspiring design and the multi colours.
It is very common to see young ladies, children and men in the African print outfits such as dress, shirt, skirt and blouse, trousers or shorts, bikinis among others.
During social events women are also seen with bags, purse, shoes, sandals, laptop bags, and other accessories covered in the African fabrics.
Some years back, the situation was different as young women preferred the foreign materials to the traditional African print with the notion that it was associated with the elderly women.
Blending with the occasion 
Currently, depending on the occasion, the African print is designed for functions such as weddings, funerals, parties, fashion shows, corporate functions, engagement and casual wears.
Armed with the fabric and desirable design from magazines or creating their own styles, one only needs to get a seamstress or a designer to get the style of his or her choice.
“I love to be in African print when am going for weddings and other big functions because it brings out my true African woman beauty and makes me feel proud to be an African” Ms Angela Adjei, a banker said.
For Ms Cecilla Baidoo who is a student, the African print gave an identity of a true African so she has the accessories and bags which gave her the sense of touch.
Ghanaian celebrities have also joined the train to promote the local fabrics by parading themselves in the African prints at various international and national occasions.
Lucrative business
Designers and seamstresses have resorted to the use of African print exploiting its full potential through their creative designs and colours for models, beauty pageants and casual wear.
According to Ms Akua Offei who is a seamstress, initially the business was not lucrative but now people have started appreciating the African fabric so it has boosted the operations of their industry as well.
“We used to take GH8 some few years back when we sew a dress but now we charge between GH15 and GH50 for a dress” she added.
Also a seamstress, Cynthia Abban said “ladies come in everyday to sew dresses for occasions such as graduation ceremonies and weddings”.
Business at Oxford Street
Other traders are also engaged in selling the already sewn African prints, which according to them is quiet lucrative.
On the Osu Oxford in Accra are displayed African wares including dresses, bags, purse among other accessories.
Mr Louis Kodjo Amuzu who started selling already sewn African prints dresses seven years ago at the Osu Oxford Street claims he now owns his own workshop where the wears are sewn with five others shops that sell the goods.
Having started with eight dresses, Mr Amuzu said his dresses range from GH17 to GH25 whiles the purse ranges from GH15 to GH20.
Apart from the sales he makes from selling the wears, he said foreigners came to buy in bulk for the international market.
Nana Boahen of the Jollof Enterprise also at the Osu Oxford Street who deals in bags, purse and bracelet said their goods range from GH30 to GH70.
“The business was not lucrative but now people have learnt to appreciate the African fabrics so the business is growing” he stated.
He added that as Christmas was approach, they hope to make some good sales since business has not been going well for sometime now.