Studio 189 is building a sustainable fashion ecosystem that empowers African artisans, produces ethically in Ghana, and brings handcrafted, high-quality African fashion to the global stage.
Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and New York City (U.S.), the brand was built to bridge the gap between sustainable production and global fashion while putting African artisans and culture at the story’s centre.
Studio 189
Studio 189 is a fashion social enterprise co-founded in 2013 by Ghanaian-American fashion executive Abrima Erwiah and American actress Rosario Dawson.
The brand focuses on sustainable, ethical fashion, emphasising handcrafted techniques such as natural plant-based dyeing, batik printing, and kente weaving. All garments are produced in Ghana, where the company operates its manufacturing facility. This factory produces clothing and serves as a training centre, providing education and employment for local artisans, particularly women and young people.
What sets Studio 189 apart is its integrated method. It is a label that sources raw materials from Africa and is actively embedded in the continent’s creative economy. The brand directly supports artisan communities by utilising a transparent supply chain and paying fair wages.
Rather than outsourcing to multiple factories, Studio 189 controls its own production, enabling it to uphold quality and ethics. The brand also partners with small-scale artisans across Ghana and West Africa, assisting them in accessing global markets and consistent demand.
The brand has garnered significant recognition in the fashion world. In 2018, the brand was awarded the prestigious CFDA + Lexus Fashion Initiative Award, which included a grant to enhance its sustainability efforts.
Studio 189 has presented several collections at New York Fashion Week and featured in various publications, including Vogue, Elle, Business of Fashion, and The New York Times. Its collections are available at Bloomingdale’s, Farfetch, and Saks Fifth Avenue retailers.
The company collaborates closely with international partners to enhance its social impact. One of its early collaborators was the UN’s International Trade Centre Ethical Fashion Initiative, a programme to connect marginalised artisan communities to the global fashion supply chain. Studio 189 contributes to skills development and economic empowerment in Ghana’s fashion and textile industry through this and other initiatives.
Abrima Erwiah, who previously worked in global communications at Bottega Veneta, brings a background in luxury fashion, branding, and sustainability to the enterprise. Her co-founder, Rosario Dawson, besides being an actress, is also an activist renowned for her work on social justice and women’s rights. Together, their mission is to create fashion and opportunity, particularly in regions historically overlooked by the global fashion system.
