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The Silent Faces of Naana B.
By Linda A. Annan
As the world of fashion steps into unexplored territories, inventive creations of African vogue quietly invade the industry. With nonpareil display of talent, each design reveals a distinct story of the line it embodies. And the tale, in most instances, is the unifying force of the collection. At a quick glance, Naana B. handbags incite the senses of any stylish woman – the clean structure of the purses and tasteful colors of Sika Print fabrics appear to demonstrate enough. Far from it. Behind the classic handbags is a compelling story of hope to those without.
This tale of collaborative effort between mother and daughter, Philomena Amoako and Naana – the only name the latter prefers to be known as, – hinges on the underpinning of a charity organization established to provide services to improve the well-being of rural communities in Ghana. Through effectual initiatives, the Rural Communities Empowerment Center (RCEC), located in the eastern part of Ghana, at Apirede and Jumapo, has enhanced the lives of a segment of the abandoned population; all made possible by the mother in the duo.
“I think what my mother has done which is really an inspiration is that she’s taken one village and she’s moved it to another one,” expresses Naana. “Really the theme of the whole center is to take one village at a time, so that one center is a testament of the whole community.”
So where do the handbags fit in? Here is where the daughter steps in.
As one with extensive academic background in the arts – undergraduate degree in Sculpture and Painting at Columbia University – Naana appears to possess a sharp eye for design. But what inspired the idea of crafting handbags and acting upon it was more than art.
She passionately admits: “Everyday when I think of my mother and I think of where she came from, her father, what he did for her, that’s what makes me talk about [the handbags] and makes me excited about it because it’s about her.”
The urbane handbag line is created by eight women associated with the RCEC center at Apirede; they are among a community of people in need of much help.
To elaborate, Naana adds: “A lot of these women are people she’s giving a second education. That’s really who is behind this; a lot of them haven’t finished school, have no other alternatives and she’s given them a chance. Of course she can only help eight of them, but it would be great if she could help 30 or 40 at the same center.”
Services provided by the RCEC include libraries, ICT programs, empowerment programs for women and activities for children between ages three and five. Eighty percent of the proceeds from the collection are donated to the center and the remainder is allotted to maintaining the line.
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