From Ghana to France: Why This Young Designer Is Heading to Paris Fashion Week
Subwae Studios wants to bring a taste of Ghana's streetwear scene to Paris.
Welcome back to Africa Reimagined! Happy Men's Fashion Week to all those participating. There are many international designers who are travelling thousands of miles to present their Spring/Summer 2026 collections in Milan, Paris and Berlin. I’m always pleasantly surprised to see designers from the continent holding runway shows and buzzy activations in new cities (and even more so when they’re on the official schedule). It’s a move many say will help connect them to an international fashion crowd as well as fans in the diaspora. It’s not an easy or cheap endeavour, but many of these emerging designers feel it's worth the investment.
This week, we’re talking to Christopher Akpo, who also goes by Chris Frydays, founder of the Ghanaian contemporary streetwear brand Subwae Studios, about his upcoming showroom in Paris. Chris and I spoke about his Paris debut and unpacked why he’s eager to showcase Subwae Studios in the world’s most renowned fashion capital. “It’s been a lot financially. A lot has gone into it, but I see [the showroom] as an investment to help find new opportunities,” he said. “Some collections deserve to be seen physically, for people to touch the fabrics and hear about the process that goes into [making] the pieces.”
The showroom is running from 26 to 28 June at Friday, a concept store that stocks curated vintage and emerging brands. Pop in if you’re in town.
Let’s dive in.
After a lively weekend cycling around Paris, enjoying free music and good vibes, courtesy of Fête de la Musique, Christopher Akpo is gearing up for his debut Paris Fashion Week showroom, which opens to the public tomorrow.
For the past seven years, Akpo has been building Subwae from a small studio in Accra, often travelling to neighbouring African cities, including Lagos, Abidjan and Dakar, to showcase his collections. However, Akpo was hungry for a new challenge, one that took his brand far away from familiar territory. “I’ve been wanting to get out of my comfort zone,” he said. “I have a major clientele in Europe, and outside of Africa, who buy my stuff a lot… It’s the best option to come out here and get inspired and meet new people.”