DIHEE-UEW Fashion Show Showcases Students' Creativity and Entrepreneurial Potential
Students from the Department of Integrated Home Economics Education (DIHEE) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) demonstrated their creativity and entrepreneurial capabilities through a fashion show organised by the department.
This event, held at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre on Thursday, 6th August, 2026, under the theme, “Threads of Excellence: Showcasing Creativity, Culture and Craftsmanship,” highlighted their innovative design skills and showcased their ability to merge theoretical knowledge with practical application in a professional setting. It featured garments designed and constructed by Level 300 and 400 students as part of their academic coursework.
Prof. Fred Yao Gbagbo, the Dean of the Faculty of Health, Allied Sciences and Home Economics Education (FHASHEE) described the exhibition as a demonstration of students’ talent, dedication, innovation, research and academic competence.
He said clothing and textiles played an important role in shaping self-esteem and communicating identity. He stressed that fashion education remained relevant to contemporary development.
Prof. Gbagbo urged the Department to expand the annual fashion show beyond the University and give it an international outlook through collaboration with diplomatic missions and embassies in Ghana. He expressed hope that future editions would attract ambassadors and other international representatives to provide students with a broader platform to showcase their skills while raising the profile of UEW.
Prof. Gbagbo also commended the students for incorporating sustainability into their designs, particularly through the reuse of fabric cut-offs to create garments and accessories. He said such practices demonstrated how textile waste could be converted into useful products while conserving resources and protecting the environment.
Dr. Elizabeth Lani Ashong, a Senior Lecturer and course lecturer, explained that the annual programme provided Level 300 and 400 students an opportunity to translate classroom knowledge into practical fashion products.
She said Level 300 students undertaking the Professional Techniques in Garment Construction course demonstrated freehand pattern-cutting techniques traditionally used by dressmakers and tailors. Their creations included garments designed for weddings, church services, cocktail events, beach outings and other lifestyle occasions.
Level 400 students, she added, used Ghanaian and African vintage fabrics to design and construct corporate wear under the Product Development in Garment Construction course while also repurposing fabric cut-offs into wearable garments and accessories.
The fashion show featured collections inspired by seven African countries, namely Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana and Zimbabwe. Other presentations included beachwear, sleepwear, relaxing wear, thematic collections, vintage corporate wear and a modelling choreography segment.
Prof. Esther Yeboah Danso-Wiredu, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UEW, commended the Faculty and Department for equipping students with practical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.
She encouraged the students to leverage their skills to establish businesses rather than depend solely on government employment after graduation. She urged them to start developing their ventures while still at the University and grow them into enterprises for employment opportunities in Ghana and beyond.
Outstanding students received awards for their creativity and craftsmanship while lecturers who contributed to their training and development were also recognised.
Dr. (Mrs.) Adeline Effie Arkhurst, a former lecturer of the Faculty, praised the students and staff for what she described as an excellent display of creativity. She commended their effective use of lines, colours, textures and appropriate fabrics to suit different wearers and occasions as well as the incorporation of fashion influences from across Africa.
The fashion show demonstrated UEW’s commitment to practical and entrepreneurship-oriented education by providing students a platform to transform academic knowledge into creative products, cultural expressions and potential economic opportunities.
