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How Ghana’s Kwaku Bediako Took African Fashion Global Through a Chance Encounter With Steve Harvey

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Ghanaian fashion entrepreneur Kwaku Bediako has shared the behind-the-scenes story of how his vision to build a globally competitive African lifestyle brand evolved into a breakthrough partnership with American television icon Steve Harvey, helping propel African fashion onto the world stage.

In a recent interview featured on Earn Your Leisure Clips, Bediako recounted how his brand, Chocolate, grew from designing large-scale traditional African wedding attire into a globally recognised fashion label worn by some of the world’s most influential figures.

From Community Weddings to Global Vision

Bediako explained that his early success was rooted in a deep understanding of African communal culture. Unlike Western weddings that typically feature a handful of groomsmen and bridesmaids, his designs embraced traditional African ceremonies where entire communities play a visible role.

He recalled creating outfits for wedding parties with as many as 175 groomsmen, some spread across Ghana and Europe, particularly Spain. According to Bediako, the idea was symbolic—showing that marriage in African culture is backed by community, responsibility and collective protection.

While the model worked locally, Bediako said he soon realised that achieving his broader goal of building “the biggest African lifestyle brand in the world” required connecting Africa to its global diaspora and forging partnerships across fashion, sports and entertainment.

The Steve Harvey Moment

That opportunity came when Steve Harvey visited Ghana. With the help of mutual contacts, Bediako took a bold risk: designing a suit for Harvey without ever taking his measurements in person. Instead, he studied Harvey’s public appearances and social media posts, eventually identifying a rare casual photo that gave him confidence to proceed.

Despite Harvey’s initial reluctance to wear ready-to-wear clothing, the suit reportedly fit perfectly. The moment proved pivotal. Harvey immediately ordered several more suits for himself and his family and publicly endorsed the brand.

Bediako recalled Harvey’s words: “Yesterday’s prize is not today’s prize,” a phrase that later became symbolic of their partnership. Harvey went on to feature Bediako’s designs on Family Feud Africa, Miss World, and other major platforms, significantly boosting the brand’s international profile.

Expanding Africa’s Fashion Influence

Following the Harvey endorsement, Bediako said his brand gained validation from global cultural leaders and institutions. This led to collaborations with figures such as Idris Elba, the NBA and NBA Africa, as well as involvement in major cultural initiatives linked to Africa’s diaspora engagement.

He credited preparation, community values and strategic networking for his success, noting that African fashion has the potential to compete globally when culture, craftsmanship and opportunity align.

Bediako’s journey highlights how African creativity—when paired with strategic global partnerships—can reshape perceptions and create powerful economic and cultural opportunities.

Fashion & Style

Denim Finds a New Identity as Miss Universe Uganda Turns Everyday Fabric Into Couture

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Denim has long been the fabric of everyday wardrobes, but Miss Universe Uganda Sureya Umeimah has shown it can also command the same reverence as haute couture.

In a striking custom creation by Mickyz Designs, the beauty queen stepped into the spotlight wearing an architectural denim ensemble that challenged expectations of what the timeless textile can become.

The design transforms familiar indigo into wearable art. A sharply tailored bodice, complete with exposed seams and metallic zip accents, creates a sculpted silhouette that celebrates craftsmanship rather than casual dressing.

Dramatic cut-out shoulders give the look a futuristic edge, while oversized sheer organza sleeves introduce softness and movement, creating a compelling balance between strength and elegance.

The dress reaches another level through its intricate silver chain draping, which cascades across the waist and hips like jewellery woven directly into the garment.

Instead of serving as a simple embellishment, the metallic detailing becomes part of the design’s architecture, catching the light with every movement and reinforcing denim’s unexpected luxury.

The asymmetrical skirt continues the story. A sweeping floor-length denim panel flows from one side, revealing a sleek mini dress beneath and creating a silhouette that feels equally suited to an international runway or a major awards ceremony.

Styled with glossy knee-high black boots and a structured handbag, the look bridges contemporary street style with couture precision.

For African fashion, the outfit speaks to a growing movement where designers are redefining familiar materials through innovation rather than relying solely on traditional luxury fabrics.

Mickyz Designs demonstrates that creativity, construction, and storytelling can elevate even the most accessible textiles into statement pieces worthy of global attention.

Sureya Umeimah wears the ensemble with quiet confidence, allowing every sculptural detail to take centre stage. It is a reminder that today’s African fashion scene is not simply following global trends.

It is confidently reshaping them, proving that imagination remains the continent’s most luxurious fabric.

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Fashion & Style

Tiwa Savage Turns a London Sidewalk Into Africa’s Latest Fashion Stage

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A cigarette disappears, a puzzled smoker freezes, and a confident voice declares, “They are American!” In the space of a few seconds, Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage and Congo’s viral street style sensation transformed an ordinary London pavement into one of social media’s most talked-about fashion moments.

While the comedy landed instantly, it was the effortless style and charisma behind the sketch that kept audiences watching.

The collaboration paired Tiwa Savage’s relaxed star power with the unmistakable presence of the Congolese internet personality celebrated for his theatrical runway walks through London’s streets.

His exaggerated catwalk, luxury-inspired confidence, and refusal to treat everyday sidewalks as anything less than a fashion runway have earned him millions of views and made him one of Africa’s most recognisable digital creators.

Together, the pair demonstrated how fashion today is no longer confined to designer campaigns or exclusive catwalks. A city street, a smartphone camera, and two personalities willing to entertain can create a cultural moment that travels across continents within hours.

Tiwa has long understood that personal style extends beyond clothing. Throughout her career, she has balanced glamorous red-carpet appearances with relaxed streetwear and bold stage looks, building a personal brand that feels both aspirational and approachable.

In the London skit, she leaned into comedy without sacrificing that unmistakable confidence, proving that authenticity often carries more influence than carefully curated perfection.

The Congolese creator brings his own cultural layer to the collaboration. His content echoes the spirit of Central Africa’s celebrated culture of elegant dressing, where fashion becomes a public performance, and self-expression is worn with pride.

His exaggerated walk turns every street into a stage, reminding audiences that confidence is often the most memorable accessory.

The video’s playful humour may have sparked the conversation, but its lasting appeal lies elsewhere.

It shows how African creatives continue to reshape global pop culture by blending fashion, comedy, music, and digital storytelling into moments that feel spontaneous, stylish, and unmistakably original.

In today’s creator economy, influence belongs as much to personality as it does to the clothes being worn.

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Fashion & Style

How Chef Abbys Turned Botanical Glamour into Ghana’s Latest Fashion Statement

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There are fashion moments that simply turn heads, and then there are those that tell a story.

Chef Abbys achieved the latter in a custom MILIRV BY SETU creation that transformed botanical inspiration into high-impact couture, reminding audiences that Ghana’s creative scene continues to flourish well beyond the kitchen and the runway.

Known for winning hearts through food, Chef Abbys stepped into an entirely different spotlight wearing an emerald-green embellished mini dress that celebrated craftsmanship as much as personal style.

Thousands of hand-applied crystals shimmered across the fitted silhouette, while sculpted leaf appliqués framed the corseted neckline with theatrical elegance.

Flowing lime-green beadwork traced the dress like climbing vines, creating the illusion that nature itself had been stitched into every seam.

The look reflects a growing movement within African fashion, where designers are drawing inspiration from the natural environment without sacrificing contemporary glamour.

Rather than relying on printed motifs, MILIRV BY SETU translated organic forms into sculptural embellishment, producing a piece that felt both artistic and red-carpet-ready.

It is a reminder that African luxury fashion increasingly speaks through craftsmanship, texture and imagination instead of excess alone.

Chef Abbys understood the assignment. Her silver pixie hairstyle created a striking contrast against the rich emerald palette, allowing the intricate detailing to command attention while adding a modern edge to the romantic design.

With confident poses and effortless charisma, she elevated the dress beyond an occasion outfit into a statement of personal branding.

For public figures today, style has become another language through which they connect with audiences. Chef Abbys has built her reputation through creativity in the culinary world, and this appearance extends that identity into fashion, showing that confidence and authenticity can travel across industries.

As Ghanaian designers continue attracting international attention, standout moments like this reinforce the country’s place in Africa’s luxury fashion conversation.

In Chef Abbys and MILIRV BY SETU, craftsmanship met confidence, proving that the most memorable fashion stories often begin with a look to nature for inspiration.

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