MEET DESIGNER AAKS

The AAKS handbag brand is built on craftsmanship, authenticity and upholding ethical values. Akosua Afryie-Kumi, the founder and design lead of AAKS, uses dyed raffia fibers to create unique shapes and patterns that celebrate traditional Ghanaian weaving.

HANDCRAFTED RAFFIA BAGS BY AAKS: THE BIRTH OF A BUSINESS

The founder of AAKS, Akosua Afryie-Kumi, grew up in Ghana using basket bags for everything. She often found herself thinking of ways these bags could be improved, and, coming from a family of entrepreneurs, she began to explore raffia as a material to make her own basket bags. Raffia is an organic, natural, renewable and biodegradable material. When woven, it creates a strong interlacing for durable use over time.

Akosua studied fashion design in London. Prior, she studied visual arts. After schooling, she returned to Ghana where she was inspired by the sunshine and colorful clothing worn there to start AAKS.

AAKS was born in 2014, introducing the world to traditional Ghanaian weaving techniques while also creating sustainable jobs in Africa. “The time was ripe for me to create my own unique bag with foldable, leather-like qualities so I could travel with it,” says Afryie-Kumi.

“I also wanted something colourful to reflect my energy and colourful upbringing.”

AAKS bags are made out of raffia, the fiber of the raffia palm. Raffia fiber is known for being soft, pliable, strong, and durable. Dyes hold well to raffia, too. It’s a material traditionally used in Ghana for basket weaving and allows for each bag to have a well-defined structure, a unique striped pattern and oftentimes touches of fringe and tassels.

The work of AAKS has been featured in Elle, Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar UK, Business of Fashion, and Africa Forbes Woman, to name a few.

AAKS AND TRADITIONAL GHANAIAN WEAVING

Ghana is quickly becoming an internationally recognized creative hub. Traditional techniques such as tie-dye, weaving and batik are having a revival, setting the stage for an emerging market of African fashion and accessories.

AAKS captures the unique weaving techniques practiced by the women in Ghana who hand make each bag. The specialized artisans use locally sourced raffia to weave beautiful designs one at a time. Natural dyes are employed to create a wide range of color, deeply exploring color palettes and, ultimately, accentuating the individuality of each piece. Within each season of the AAKS collection, new shapes and sizes are introduced, allowing shoppers to match their needed function with color and design.

The AAKS design philosophy is built on craftsmanship, authenticity and upholding ethical values. Akosua Afriyie-Kumi oversees every stage of the production process to ensure that her products are worthy of the brand and its mission.