Fashion & Style
How Cowry Shells Became the Crown Jewel of Made by Horllard’s Bridal Runway
There are bridal collections, and then there are moments that redefine how the world sees African luxury.
Made by Horllard achieved exactly that with its Brides of Africa collection, transforming the runway at Afro Fashion Show UK into a celebration of heritage, craftsmanship and regal elegance.
Rather than following familiar Western bridal traditions, the Nigerian luxury fashion house looked inward, drawing inspiration from symbols that have carried meaning across generations.
The collection’s defining feature is the cowry shell, an object once used as currency across parts of Africa and long associated with prosperity, femininity and royal status. Instead of treating the shells as decorative accents, Made by Horllard integrated them into the very architecture of each design.
Gowns shimmered with painstaking hand-applied detailing, sculptural capes framed the body like ceremonial robes, and dramatic silhouettes turned every model into the image of an African queen.
The collection also reflects a growing movement across the continent’s fashion industry: the desire to tell African stories through luxury design rather than borrowing narratives from elsewhere.
From the label’s studios in Abuja, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom, Made by Horllard has built its reputation on bespoke bridalwear that blends couture techniques with cultural symbolism.
Cowhide textures, structured tailoring and handcrafted embellishments have become signatures of a brand determined to place African artistry at the centre of global fashion conversations.
That approach resonates far beyond the runway. Today’s brides are increasingly seeking garments that express identity as much as beauty, and designers across Africa are responding with collections rooted in history while embracing contemporary sophistication.
Brides of Africa captures that shift perfectly, proving that bridal couture can honour ancestral traditions without sacrificing modern glamour.
As African fashion continues to command international attention, Made by Horllard’s latest showcase stands as a reminder that the continent’s greatest luxury may not be found in imported trends, but in centuries-old symbols reimagined by designers bold enough to let culture lead the design process.
Fashion & Style
Polaris Beauty Lounge Is Quietly Redefining What Luxury Beauty Means in Accra
Finding a salon you can trust is becoming just as important as finding the right outfit. In Accra, where appearance often plays a role in everything from weddings and business meetings to social events and content creation, beauty has become an extension of personal branding.
That shift is helping salons like Polaris Beauty Lounge stand out, not through flashy marketing, but through consistency.
Located on Brenya Avenue in Tesano, Polaris Beauty Lounge has spent the past five years building a loyal following by focusing on what many clients say is increasingly difficult to find: skilled stylists, quality service and results that last.
Instead of rushing customers through appointments, the salon begins with consultations that consider each client’s hair type, lifestyle and styling goals.
From silk presses and precision cuts to colouring, treatments and natural hair care, the emphasis is on healthy hair that looks good long after leaving the chair.
Protective styling remains one of Ghana’s strongest beauty traditions, and braids continue to dominate fashion across generations. Polaris Beauty Lounge has leaned into that demand by offering knotless braids, box braids, twists, cornrows and custom protective styles that balance neat finishing with client comfort.
It’s an approach that has attracted women from neighbourhoods including Tesano, Dzorwulu, East Legon, Airport Residential and Cantonments, many seeking styles that remain polished for weeks.
The salon has also embraced the growing popularity of premium hair extensions. Professional installation of weaves, wigs, frontals and closures has become essential for clients who want versatile looks without compromising the health of their natural hair.
By prioritising seamless finishes and careful installation techniques, Polaris Beauty Lounge reflects a wider movement within Ghana’s beauty industry, where technical expertise increasingly defines luxury.
As Accra’s fashion and creative scenes continue to expand, beauty salons are becoming more than places for grooming. They are spaces where confidence is built, identities are expressed, and first impressions begin.
Polaris Beauty Lounge’s steady rise shows that in today’s style-conscious Ghana, reliability may be the most fashionable statement of all.
Fashion & Style
FRUCHÉ’s ‘KLEG’ Collection Turns Society’s Beauty Standards on Their Head
What if the very features people are taught to hide became the season’s most celebrated fashion statement?
That question sits at the heart of FRUCHÉ’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, KLEG, a presentation that transformed the runway into a powerful conversation about identity, heritage, and self-acceptance.
Named after the Nigerian Pidgin word often used to describe bow legs or other perceived imperfections, KLEG reclaims a label that has long carried ridicule. Instead of disguising physical differences, the collection celebrates them.
Models walked proudly with scars, tribal marks, broad noses, full lips and facial asymmetry presented not as flaws to be corrected but as defining features worthy of admiration.
In an industry often criticised for narrow beauty ideals, FRUCHÉ offered a refreshing reminder that individuality has its own elegance.
The message was matched by exceptional craftsmanship. Creative director Frank Aghuno drew inspiration from nostalgic Nigerian school uniforms, reinventing familiar gingham fabrics through luxurious handwoven Aso Oke textiles and resist-dyed Adire.
Traditional wood carving techniques, intricate beadwork, and indigenous craftsmanship elevated each garment beyond clothing, turning every piece into a visual story rooted in Nigerian culture.
The collection also reflected a wider shift taking place across African fashion. Designers are increasingly finding global recognition by embracing local traditions rather than adapting their work to fit Western expectations. KLEG demonstrated that authenticity itself has become a defining luxury. Cultural heritage, artisanal skill and personal storytelling now stand alongside impeccable tailoring as hallmarks of contemporary African design.
For audiences across Africa and beyond, the collection carries a message that reaches far beyond fashion. It encourages people to reconsider the features, histories and identities they have been taught to conceal.
In doing so, FRUCHÉ has shown that style can challenge social attitudes just as effectively as it can set trends.
If KLEG proves anything, it is that fashion’s greatest innovation isn’t always found in new silhouettes or fabrics. Sometimes, it begins with permitting people to be seen exactly as they are.
Fashion & Style
How Two Global Stars Turned the FIFA World Cup Final Into a Runway for Ghanaian Fashion
When billions of people tuned in for the FIFA World Cup final, their attention was fixed on football, music and the spectacle surrounding the world’s biggest sporting event.
Yet hidden in plain sight was another story unfolding—one stitched together through colour, craftsmanship and cultural pride. Ghanaian fashion had quietly found its place on one of the world’s grandest stages.
Internet sensation IShowSpeed offered the first clue. As he appeared during the celebrations, he wore a bracelet featuring Ghana’s unmistakable red, gold and green colours. It was a small accessory, but one loaded with meaning.

Ever since his widely celebrated visit to Ghana during his African tour, the online star has spoken warmly about the country and its people.
Wearing its national colours before a global audience transformed a simple fashion choice into a subtle expression of identity and connection.

The second moment was impossible for fashion enthusiasts to ignore. American rapper Swae Lee performed in a striking custom-made “Flower Boy Jacket” by rising Ghanaian designer Hasheem.
The piece blended sharp contemporary tailoring with African-inspired creativity, demonstrating that Ghanaian fashion is no longer confined to local runways or regional fashion weeks. It now belongs on international stages where culture, entertainment and style collide.

For emerging designers across Ghana, the moment carried significance beyond celebrity endorsement.
It highlighted a growing shift in the global fashion industry, where African creatives are increasingly recognised for originality rather than simply contributing inspiration behind the scenes.

Every appearance by a global artist wearing a Ghanaian design expands visibility for the country’s thriving creative economy and encourages international audiences to look beyond traditional fashion capitals.
Fashion has always communicated identity without words. At the World Cup final, Ghana’s presence wasn’t announced through speeches or ceremonies—it appeared through colour, design and craftsmanship.

While many viewers celebrated the football, others witnessed something equally remarkable: proof that Ghanaian fashion has become part of the global conversation, confidently shaping culture one iconic look at a time.
-
Ghana News1 day agoTop Headline Stories from Ghanaian Newspapers: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
-
Ghana News1 day agoIn a First for Africa, Ghana and US Sign Landmark Patent Deal to Fast-Track Innovation
-
Ghana News1 day agoUS State-Level Diplomacy: Governor Evers’ Ghana Visit Signals Deepening Economic Ties
-
Sights and Sounds1 day agoFrom Wli to Tagbo: Discover the Waterfall Trails That Define Ghana’s Volta Region
-
Ghana News9 hours agoAfrica Demands a Seat at the Table: Mahama Calls for Reshaping Global Health Governance
-
Arts and GH Heritage2 days agoWhen a Mask Hides Power: The Art Challenging Ghana’s Illegal Mining Crisis
-
Festivals & Events1 day agoAn Evening of Conversation and Community Awaits at LOLA Africa Liberty Mixer Night
-
Homes & Real Estate24 hours agoRelocating in Ghana: The Property Decisions That Can Make or Break Your Fresh Start
