Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2014 | Page 64

JONATHAN BALLIET

Afriyie Poku designs for the modern gentleman in his Oberima Afriyie menswear line.

AFRIYIE POKU
CREATIVE DIRECTOR, OBERIMA AFRIYIE
Afriyie Poku was a sensation at last year’s
Baker Motor Co. Charleston Fashion Week,
one of North America’s most prestigious venues for emerging talent. Though relatively new
on the scene, the Atlanta resident took both the
Emerging Designer Competition and People’s
Choice awards for Oberima Afriyie, his line of

“Oberima,” a word from Ghana, describes
a man of dignity recognized for his honor,
humility and prestige within his community,
from Poku’s childhood in Ghana and his West
African heritage are apparent in his designs,
augmented with nods to traditional European
Hollywood component, born of hours spent

fabrics and elegant dash are supplemented

icons including James Dean and Humphrey
Bogart—individuals that still represent Poku’s

splashes of color, bold buttons against neutral
tones, raised trouser lengths and pants with
skirted elements from the knee up.

“Every time I design, I have these individuals in mind,” Poku says. “I believe that if I’m
designing for an American gentleman, I am

designing for the gentlemen of the world.”
Whil H\