New on the horizon for Ali Adam

By Leandi Claasen

Ali Adam

Dubbed by the media as the rising star, Ghanaian fashion guru, Ali Adam, whose designs have been gracing the catwalks of Milan, has launched his first men’s collection on 21 April, in Paarl.

The Ghanaian, whom many in the fashion industry has come to know as the man of many cultures, is also proving to be a man of many words, a reality that comes to rest in an interview where your anxious attempts to question are met by an unyielding urge to steer the conversation in the direction Adam wants it to take.

So, in a bid to exercise the trick of receptivity – you shut up, put aside the list of questions you’ve prepared so vigorously in advance, sit back, and allow him to indulge you. And indulge you he does…

Adam, whose name is synonymous with fusion, the Euro-African style that epitomizes his creations, describes his new men’s line as “colourful, fresh and powerful”. He says that it will make men feel like they are “President”.

Adam has always worn his own designs – “when you see me looking good you will know that I’m wearing my own designs,” he says – but has never officially launched a men’s collection, until now.

Adam says that he wants men to become part of the “universal language of dressing”. “We live in the modern world. There are no rules. Every man should have a bold piece in his closet,” he explains.

Speaking on the promise of Adam’s new line, local dressmaker, Hill Wags, says that Adam has incorporated the vibrant and intricate embroidered fabrics that dictate his ladies collection into his male line and is set to change the norm of black and grey at the office.

With this collection Adam promises to bring sexy and masculine together. He says that the energy put into creating this line is evident in all the garments. “If my garments could talk it would say, ‘take me,’” he yodels.

Hailing from his Paarl studio, in Dwars-in-die-weg centre, he speaks candidly about his plans to design for the locals.

“Though I have a solid international client base – socialites from as far away as Washington DC, New York, Switzerland and the Netherlands… I also want to design for the working class.”

In answer to the question, why South Africa, Adam explains: “every designer dream of living in a place where they can find inspiration, I find inspiration here every single day."