We were lucky to catch up with Akosua Afriyie-kumi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Akosua, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

Through my work at AAKS, we impact the community greatly by providing employment to the local community and ensuring the continuity of weaving as a thriving art that can be passed down from generation to generation. Our artisans are directly paid fair wages and their skills are developed greatly. We also encourage weaving to be valued as a major income earner for many in the cooperative. In the long run we hope that AAKS will go someway in contributing to the revival and sustenance of weaving.

Akosua, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Akosua, the owner of AAKS. AAKS was born from a childhood steeped in the beauty of Ghanaian basket bags and a vision for transforming them into something modern and vibrant. I had a desire for an AAKS bag to be softer, foldable, and adorned with tasteful, contemporary colours and detailing. This led me to research bag designs and fibres, discovering the alignment of these ideas with my dream brand’s ethos. Recognising a market gap for beautifully handcrafted bags, I embarked on a journey to Ghana to bring my vision to life, driven by a passion to create something uniquely fulfilling both personally and professionally.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

Yes, we manufacture AAKS products ourselves, with each bag crafted by hand in Ghana using traditional weaving techniques passed down through generations. When I started AAKS, I didn’t have direct experience in manufacturing, I connected with skilled artisans who embraced my vision for blending modern design with traditional techniques. A key lesson has been patience and adaptability handcrafting each piece requires time and respect for the process.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When building AAKS’s social media audience, our focus was on organic reach, which has been incredibly effective for growing our clientele. We prioritize beautiful, compelling imagery and storytelling that truly captures the essence of our brand. People connect more when they see and feel the authenticity behind what you’re sharing.
For anyone just starting, I’d recommend being consistent with quality content that reflects your brand story and values. Engage thoughtfully with others’ posts, and aim to form genuine connections with your followers and industry peers. That kind of authenticity will help you build a loyal audience over time!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aaksonline.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.a.k.s/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aakshandcrafted/

Image Credits

Photography by AAKS and Cara Johnson