We don’t support our own but we are ever
ready to criticize. A Ghanaian doesn’t mind
buying an Off-White apparel for an outrageous
amount but will have a serious problem with
buying an FNM at a similar or lower price;
why? Because it’s FNM - it’s owned by a
Ghanaian. I don’t work according to the
Ghanaian market; I produce for my A.I.S and
G.I.S people because they will buy. Not long ago
a white lady and her children who came to
Ghana and saw my products were amazed at it.
They bought about 50 of my hoodies
instantly…such things don’t happen with
Ghanaians.
CL: What’s the vision for FNM?
KP: We are about to do greater things than we
are currently doing. We have already crossed
borders, now we are working to expand the
brand. We will soon release our own collection
of sneakers. The partnership with a sneaker
company has been finalized. The vision is great;
we are just taking it one step at a time.
CL: What inspires you?
KP: God! He is my only source of inspiration.
CL: What advice would you give to your
younger self?
KP: To my younger self? Stay focused – that
simple. Don’t look at anyone to uplift you. You
have to uplift yourself. Don’t wait for anyone or
politician to create jobs for you – you have to
create jobs for yourself and others.
CL: Talk about politicians, do you think
they’re doing enough to help your
entrepreneurs such as you?
KP: Politicians can’t help me or you. We need
to look to ourselves for everything. They’re
there to manage our economy which we are to
create. They are nothing without us so it
sometimes surprises me when I hear people
calling on them for help – these people rather
need our help. They’re there for the sake of
themselves and their families. After elections
they don’t know you from anywhere so how
can you rely on them? We just have to look out
for ourselves.
56| Colossium . June 2019
CL: Every successful entrepreneur talks
about their journeys and how tough it
was, do you share the same sentiments?
KP: Nothing in life is easy or up for grabs. You
have to work for it. You don’t have to sit and
wait for things to happen to you, you have to go
after them so I don’t like to put my journey in
that bracket as easy or tough. Life itself isn’t
easy
CL: President of the United States of
America, Donald Trump has said in the
past that his started his business with a
small loan his father gave him. What is
your story?
KP: I started as a stylist. Styling people and
celebrities so I was able to save from that; then I
had my problem loaning me some money as
well which I added to my savings.
CL: What’s your take on the creative
industry as a whole?
KP: There are a lot of creative people out there
but we don’t have an industry. Even if we have,
it is not lucrative and regulated. In fact there’s a
lot to be done in this country as a whole, if you
ask me.
CL: Do you create the designs yourself?
KP: Yeah, every one of them. I get the
inspiration then I mock them up. I outsource
my printing to a company outside Ghana.
CL: What’s your typical day like?
KP: The first thing I do is to pray. As a spiritual
person I place much importance on prayer.
Once that is out of the way, I look at the agenda
for the rest of the day. Most often, I like to do
different things depending on my mood. I don’t
like doing routine works.
I
n my hand is a cream coloured FNM back
strap golf cap. It’s a yet to be released cap
– a gift from Kulaperry. What do I think
about FNM and Kulaperry? I’m thinking
of many things. He’s a pearl amongst
stones. Fear No Man as a brand has all the
ingredients to match up global giants. As for my
FNM badge, I’m wearing it with honour.