Everyone Makes a Mark

It's not every day that a fashion student visits Africa to volunteer for an engineering-related charity. But that's exactly what Alex Fox did last summer – and the experience has forever changed how she views a vital tool of the fashion trade: textiles.

A fourth-year fashion communication student, Fox is a long-time volunteer with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), a non-governmental organization that seeks sustainable ways to eliminate extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Through Fox's affiliation with EWB, she completed a four-month placement in Ghana, partnering with the United Kingdom-based apparel business Lionne. The company works with African designers and artisans to produce fashion-forward clothing and accessories.

While in Ghana, Fox studied every aspect of the country's apparel industry, speaking with fashion designers and tailors, touring factories and even working with fashion design students at Tamale Polytechnic. Along the way, Fox learned that the beauty of Ghanaian fabrics goes beyond their vibrant colours and stunning patterns; it's also about people, design practices and taking pride in your work.

It's a lesson Fox hasn't forgotten. And today, she is making her mark by promoting authentic African fabrics in the global market. The task isn't easy. There are logistical issues to resolve and business strategies to develop. But this is where Fox's multitasking skills, marketing savvy and passion for fashion come in handy.

Bringing Ghanaian textiles to market will reap amazing benefits, Fox believes. For instance, it will encourage investment in the Ghanaian economy, and will introduce the country's beautiful batiks, smocks and cloths to fashion houses and top retailers worldwide.

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