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Tsitsi Ndabambi
Ghanaian multi-award winning fashion designer Kwaku Bediako enticed Karen Mutasa’s fashion taste buds with his men’s collection when she laid eyes on them when they met in Nigeria.

She did not waste time when she returned home and mailed Kwaku a full image of her husband; business mogul Shingi Mutasa. Just by glimpsing at Shingi’s picture, Kwaku and his team worked their magic and produced exclusive clothes for Shingi.

That was the beginning of a friendship that then brought Kwaku to Zimbabwe when the couple invited him to share his expertise in the country.

On February 16 at their residence, the couple hosted a private glamorous evening showcase of his latest collection from Men’s Fashion Week Cape Town entitled “Urban by Chocolate”.

The collection consisted of elegant, classy men’s wear that can be swapped with a normal business suit and tie and casual looks of blended exotic fabrics and colours and decorative threads to finish the look.

The invited few who attended the occasion did not waste time in placing their orders which unfortunately excluded ladies wear.

Kwaku, who is the founder and CEO of Chocolate, has over the years designed clothes for presidents and celebrities all over Africa and has dressed Grammy Award winners attracting the attention of CNN and Vogue Magazine where he was then featured.

From operating his business on his own, his work has expanded into a fashion house which is capable of handling more than 1 000 orders per month although his attention to quality and detail is uncompromised.

As suggested by the brand name, Chocolate, his aim was to make people crave for his products which are not limited to clothes only but extend to custom-made shoes and sandals as well competing with international brands the likes of Prada and Giorgio Armani.

Kwaku is married to Mua, founder of make-up brand and beauty products Aquia. Like her husband, she is famous for her make-up artistry with brides-to-be in their native Ghana.