Nana Kofi Asihene Is Hitting His Stride

It would be impossible to tell the story of Nana Kofi Asihene’s career without moving across multiple mediums. As a designer, filmmaker, and creative director Asihene’s influence on the creative industry is impressively multi-faceted. But to hear him tell it, the journey has only just began and the only way is up.

Nana Kofi Asihene’s love for fashion and the creative field started very early when he would either go to the library in Accra Central and read old fashion and style magazines or buy them from the back stalls of the Odorna Station in Circle. Perusing those pages gave him an eye for the arts. His foray into creating was nurtured while studying Visual Arts in Accra Academy and the creative process crystallised while getting a Diploma in Fine Art from the Ultimate School of Art.

The arts gets a bad rap in Ghana, however, coming from a family of creatives like Theodosia Okoh and T-Michael, Nana Asihene always knew what was possible with art.

Read Also: Afromusicon & Nana Kofi Asihene shoot video for Worlasi

He spent the following years getting a degree in Textiles from KNUST and setting himself up for a career as a fashion designer. He won the British Council International Young Fashion Entrepreneur and was a finalist at the Redds Fashion Design Awards. He apprenticed for Jimi Delaja Couture and started his own fashion line. His young fashion line would set him in the path of the late Kofi Ansah who became a mentor.

Then came the pivot into the visual medium. As a student in KNUST, he had dabbled in making music videos. Therefore, it became easy to direct music videos for musicians who needed them. He helped shape the music video industry in Ghana.

In the last decade, he formed NKACC, a brands and communication company, where he is the Creative Director and Lead Consultant. He has worked with brands such as Tullow Oil, Old Mutual, Dalex Swift, Vodafone Ghana, KFC Ghana among others.

To talk to Asihene is to have a conversation about film, photography, business strategy, and fashion. The depth of his knowledge and experience is an unending well. He has helped shape a lot of businesses’ brand identity, creative culture, advertising campaigns and brand communication goals. Gaining an MBA adds another layer to the knowledge he dispenses.

Exploring where he wanted to go, he created the Nana Asihene Design Studio. This is the product design studio, that focuses on user centric design, African craftsmanship and aesthetics. The ethos is rooted in the essential characteristic of African art being both aesthetic and functional

Having 20 years experience in any industry is not a cake walk. However, for Asihene this is the time to build and harness all those years of experience to position him as a creative consultant who helps brands and organisations build strong emotional connections with their audience through strategic creative communication.

This is a full circle moment for Asihene as he gets ready to launch his new collection. It is only right for him to enter into his new era paying homage to his first love, fashion. His attention to detail is evident in this collection. The clothes by their very nature are not at all timid; they are simple in cut but not in impact.

“When you’re a perfectionist like I am, no matter what you do, you never really feel satisfied or that it was perfect enough,” he says. “That’s one of the things that drives me, I always feel there is something more to do”

over Size Shirt with Stitch detail + Kimono inspired Dip dyed Cotton pants

Notched Collar Shirt with Stitch detail + Kimono style Dip Dyed Cotton Pants

Grind detail Silver Ring for Men

Dip dyed White shirt with Kiss detail