Boyedoe: from Accra to the world
David’s studio packs a punch. Walking in, you are surrounded by racks of intriguing clothes against some walls and styled mannequins against others. At the centre, there is a couch that immediately gives the space a relaxed ease. It’s a great vantage point to look around at the pieces. We later explore doors into other spaces, but first, who is David Kusi Boye-Doe? His calm confidence is a signature swag many Ghanaians carry. This sense that there is no rush to success, but moving with success is certain. It’s really about the faith to get there. Today, Boyedoe, his emerging socially responsible and environmentally conscious brand, is an LVMH prize finalist, the first Ghanaian brand in that position. It was previously a finalist of ARISE 30 under 30 New Stars in Lagos, Nigeria. His four collections so far tell the intricate story of culture, faith and his calm confidence in approaching his dreams, which started to take shape when he was a child in Kumasi.
Growing up in Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city in the Ashanti region, David attended countless chief ceremonies and processions. His grandfather was a chief linguist for Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the 15th Asantehene (King) of the Ashanti Region, reigning from 1970 to 1999. King processions are a sight to behold, especially during festivals like Akwasidae and Adae Kese in Kumasi — the Asantehene is carried in a palanquin in the streets, surrounded by people paying homage through song, dance, festive attire, colourful umbrellas and more. Witnessing this filled David with dreams:
“We followed when my grandfather held the umbrellas during the King's processions. We saw the colours, the vibrance, and it gave me so much joy seeing people dress up for this moment.”
David pinpoints these moments as the inception of his inspiration. From wanting to be an architect initially to dealing with grief after losing his father, and finally making ends meet by starting a second-hand clothing business.
“I’d go to the market, buy secondhand clothes, clean them up, iron them and, put them in a nice bag to sell them at offices. That’s how it started.”
David studied the habits of consumers through this endeavour. He picked up on how people in offices liked their outfits styled and spent time understanding their needs. He became a stylist but then took the extra step of commissioning clothes to be made for his clients by other tailors. Despite his initial desire to be an architect, he decided to go all in with fashion, a new gift he uncovered. He moved to Accra, eventually landing at the Design Institute of Africa. His work there was intriguing to his teachers and peers. He often faced the question: Who are you making this for? A question that he’s still answering in his work today and one that shaped the international vision he has for Boyedoe:
“I would not create the usual kaftan or traditional garments. I was creating something that would be embraced worldwide, not just by Ghanaians.”
Today, Boyedoe travels the world, from Lagos to Paris to Geneva. It appeals to fashion veterans and everyday fashion enthusiasts alike. Across his four collections, David and his team play with Kente. To him, it’s a question of legacy and longevity.
“In Ghana, the original kente is more colourful, but I wanted to build a brand created by Africans that resonates globally.”
His recent collections include Kente coats that can brace any European winter, like the Busumuru Oversized Coat or white denim shorts perfect for a Miami or Accra beach party, like the Odeefuo White Denim Shorts. Clothes made for any location and weather while dripping with cultural luxury. It’s about reimagining heritage, which he believes is a part of preserving it. Why should Kente only be worn in its traditional colours or shapes? Ghanaian mentality often leans towards, it’s always been done that way, which is equally as important for preserving culture as it is to reinvent it.
One thing that will never change is how luxurious both approaches are. They are rooted in rich history, kingship, and craftsmanship while centring kente and the inherent sustainable practices formed around the fabric.
In the latest collection, David celebrates female craftsmanship:
“The current SS25 is called Out of the Earth. It’s time to celebrate our local artisans, to celebrate nature and the women who weave the fabric in the Northern part of Ghana. We are female-dominant. My Mom raised me. I know that women carry the culture. They carry the skills and the craftsmanship. They build and restore things.”
Every collection is a unique story. At its heart is Sankofa culture, one of Ghana’s most meaningful cultural expressions stemming from the Akan people. It symbolises the quest for knowledge, critical examination and intelligence by knowing the past to align with the future. David’s collections carry the threads of the past while weaving into a new future of Afro-luxury. This has propelled the brand onto the international stages of Paris and Milan without losing its essence. He praises fashion weeks as opportunities to meet new business partners, investors and others, who will help carry the story of the brand and its pieces even further.
In Accra, there is no shortage of talent. Many designers are emerging with incredible work.
“I always say Africa is the home of sustainability. We didn't wake up to luxury. We are luxury,” he highlights. However, he believes local talents need more support and a system incentivising growth and longevity. Currently, there are more opportunities outside of Ghana than within Ghana for fashion entrepreneurs.
We ask David how he sees the brand in the next hundred years, a bold reach, but when you are building a legacy, a hundred years and beyond is the goal:
“The most important thing for me is creating in Ghana and involving the community. In a hundred years, we can say that production and everything tied to Boyedoe was made in Ghana. We’ll set up production factories centred around people, well-being and giving back to the community.”
Watch the studio tour HERE to discover what was behind those doors.
