The Ghana TVET Service has partnered with circular economy organization The OR Foundation to host the "Next Gen Fashion Icon Showcase" during National TVET Week 2026, formally bringing circular design and sustainable fashion into the national vocational training system.

According to the organizers, the showcase is scheduled for October 12–16, 2026, as one of the key events of National TVET Week, providing trainees with a national stage to demonstrate their technical skills and creative potential in circular design. The event will also bring together representatives from government, industry, development partners, and civil society to discuss the future direction of skills training in Ghana.

Eric Kofi Adzroe, Director-General of the Ghana TVET Service, said the fashion show gives every Ghanaian a chance to see trainees' abilities firsthand: "When people see garments made from things that would otherwise be thrown away, they begin to see their surroundings differently. It invites us to rethink waste—not as garbage, but as raw material waiting for skilled hands."

Abdul Fatah Maigah Mahama, Deputy Director-General in charge of management services, noted that the significance of this partnership goes beyond a single event—it is about the future direction of skills training. He called for rethinking curriculum design and examining whether sustainability is treated as an add-on or a core competency: "The future requires us to embed sustainability across all disciplines, from construction to cosmetology, so that every graduate integrates circular thinking into their craft."

Adzroe also mentioned that trainees will have the opportunity to learn directly from mentors at The OR Foundation, gaining exposure to international best practices in upcycling and circular design.

Elizabeth Ricketts, co-founder and executive director of The OR Foundation, said Ghana has so much to teach the world about sustainable fashion. The foundation's goal is to ensure that young people who care about the circular economy, as well as creative entrepreneurs already practicing circular models, have access to the institutional support, training, and business development resources they need to grow: "Together with TVET, we can scale this work and make Ghana a flagship of the global fashion economy that rejects the fast fashion business model and balances environmental sustainability with economic opportunity."

The partnership also builds on the foundation's long-term work in Ghana. After the devastating fire at the Kantamanto Market, the foundation committed more than $3 million to emergency relief and recovery support, helping thousands of traders, artisans, and small businesses rebuild. Its initiatives also include the "Obroni Wawu October" festival and skills programs for young designers and upcyclers, continuing to support livelihoods in the textile sector.

Embedding circular design into skills training and providing a hands-on platform is seen as a practical path to connecting training with emerging economic opportunities, helping cultivate a workforce that is both environmentally conscious and economically productive.

Source: Ghana TVET Service Partners' The OR Foundation' To Advance Sustainable Fashion Through National TVET WEEK 2026 · Originally published on 2026-09-25