Madamn Kimma Wreh: New Liberian Fashion Ambassador: Leading Over 15 Liberian Tailors to the AU Fashion Show in Paris, France

Berenice Mulubah | September 24, 2015 2:15AM

Kimma Wreh

Liberian tailors under the banner, Liberia National Tailors, Textiles, Garment and Allied Workers Union (LNTTGAWU) are preparing to participant in the African Union Fashion Designer Show for the first time in Paris, France in November.

The Secretary-General of the LNTTGAWU, Anthony B. Taweh, said over 15 Liberian professional tailors will join Liberia’s Fashion Ambassador, Madam Kimma Wreh, currently based in the United States of America to participate in the fashion show in Paris on 21 November.

Madam Wreh is an award-winning Liberian fashion designer and founder of Tekay Designs mc, an international fashion label (founded in 1998) with manufacturing in Huston and West Africa. The textile designer trade fair is expected to bring together fashion designers from Africa, America, Europe and Asia.

Addressing a regular press briefing Tuesday, 22 September at the Ministry of Information on Capitol Hill, Anthony said the Africa Fashion Reception is a Pan African initiative that will attract designers, fashion icons, first Ladies, Ambassadors, Ministers, and media personalities from over 30 African countries in a celebration of cultural diversity to be expressed through artistic fashion discipline under the theme: “Africa is the new inspiration of global fashion.”

He said the AU will host all countries participating in the Paris Fashion Show to a welcoming Gala event at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2016. Meanwhile, the LNTTGAWU has applauded the Government of Liberia for supporting the union.

It said since President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf pronounced in her Annual Message for public officials to wear traditionally made in Liberia textiles on Fridays to work, there has been massive increase of people attired in Liberian-made costumes.

Anthony explained that since the LNTTGAWU was founded in 1987, this was the first time it has been invited by the Ministry of Information to brief the Liberian people about its activities. He said the mission of the tailor union is to provide strategic leadership and create an enabling environment for its members to participate in the tailor industry.

He said the goal is to improve working conditions of members, which would enable them to maximize returns on their labor. LNTTGAWU secretary general added that empowerment of small and medium enterprise or (SME) in the tailoring industry through business development and access to finance is crucial to sustaining the union and its members, adding that the ultimate goal is to alleviate poverty and improve the well-being of tailors and their families across the country.