Final-year Fashion Design students of the Department of Industrial Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) have demonstrated their creative growth and innovative abilities at the 2026 Graduate Fashion Show, as they transition from students into emerging professionals in the fashion industry, under the theme "Becoming: From Excellence to Eminence".
The Head of the Department of Industrial Art, Professor Samuel Nortey, said the theme "Becoming" represents the ability of students to move beyond conventional expectations through innovation, creativity and originality.
He explained that "becoming" describes students who demonstrate exceptional growth and the ability to develop creative ideas beyond what is expected of them.
"When students are able to jump the gun, when students are able to innovate, when students are able to become very creative within a short time, that is when we give them the title of becoming," he said.
Prof. Nortey said the fashion show provided an opportunity for the public to witness the outcome of the students' training and creative development, particularly their ability to translate ideas into original fashion pieces.
He encouraged the audience to support the emerging designers and promote the work of the Department, noting that the Fashion Design programme had reached a stage where its students were increasingly making their presence felt through their creativity.
The Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Art, Professor Ebenezer Kofi Howard, said the fashion show reflected the University's aspiration to move from excellence to eminence by providing platforms for students to showcase their abilities.
He noted that the event was an opportunity to celebrate the students' achievements while encouraging them to aspire to greater heights in their professional careers.
The 2026 Graduate Fashion Show provided the graduating students with a platform to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and creativity acquired through their training while positioning them for opportunities within Ghana's growing fashion and creative industries.
The fashion show culminated in the selection of Sheris Edith Echie as the winner of the competition. Reflecting on her achievement, Sherris said the recognition came as a surprise despite the confidence her colleagues had shown in her work throughout the creative process.
She described fashion design as a demanding discipline requiring dedication, perseverance and long hours of creative work, noting that the effort invested eventually becomes evident in the final product.
"Fashion is painful. But if you love creating, if you love fashion, you are going to endure. You are going to cry, you are going to have sleepless nights. You have to put in the effort, and creativity speaks for itself," she said.
Story: Belinda Opoku Danso Photos: Isaac Kwaku Duah
