Ghanaian designer Kwame Adusei has been making waves in the fashion industry by redefining celebrity style with his innovative designs and attention to detail. Known for his luxurious, yet timeless pieces that combine traditional Ghanaian craftsmanship with modern aesthetics, Adusei has quickly garnered a loyal following among A-list celebrities and influencers.
After 10 years as a fashion designer in Ghana, Kwame Adusei decided to take on a new challenge. He moved to New York City in January, unprepared for the additional difficulty. “Moving straight from a tropical place to New York, you find out that the trench coat is not as warm as you think,” he tells Vogue. So Adusei pivoted, landing in Los Angeles where he recently opened a new storefront on Doheny Drive in West Hollywood.
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Adusei’s work on sexuality and androgyny has captivated celebrities such as Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner, Lori Harvey, Kali Uchis, Ciara, Reneé Rapp, and others in her two-year residency in Los Angeles.
When Adusei decided to leave Ghana, he felt forced to highlight his African heritage in the business. “When I moved to LA, I realized that a lot of people didn’t have a reference when it comes to African fashion, even though there are amazing designers both living outside of Africa and in Africa,” he told Vogue.
For him, that meant giving his new label a name that honored his culture. In the end, he landed on his own. Still, he felt conflicted. “It is very vulnerable, and you have to earn it, if you have your name on something,” he says. “There’s way more to be cautious about, so I had never thought I’d put my name on [the label].”
Adusei draws inspiration for this approach from the use of Kente cloth in traditional West African wedding ceremonies.