Give Ghana’s fashion students the tech and software, not just the scissors – CEO of Seloart Group urges
When a fashion student from Keta Senior High Technical School stunned the internet with a self-made dress likened to a MET Gala look, the clips did more than spark pride.
They revealed a clear truth that Alfred Selorm Betepe, founder and R&D lead at Seloart Group, has long argued. Raw talent is abundant; what students need now are the digital tools that turn talent into scalable, exportable industry skills.
Selorm Betepe watched those viral videos and posted two thoughtful threads explaining why Ghana’s Senior High School fashion success stories point to a larger opportunity.
“With modelling software, a student can create, test, and experiment dozens of designs virtually… they can arrange digital fabric, see how a garment moves on a virtual model, and test different materials and colours in real time without wasting physical resources,” ,” he wrote.
Why software matters
Physical prototyping is slow and costly. A student with limited resources may afford only one or two samples. That restricts experimentation and narrows creative horizons.
Design and manufacturing software changes the game. It allows rapid iteration, larger portfolios and the production of industry standard files that global manufacturers can use directly.
“Software like Autodesk Fusion 360 generates files such as STEP, STL and DWG. These are universal formats used by manufacturers around the world. A designer in Accra can share a single file with a factory in Milan, Guangzhou or Istanbul and the receiver will understand the design, the materials and the technical parameters needed for production. That one step removes friction, reduces errors and opens doors to global supply chains,” Selorm added.
From art to industry
Selorm is not speaking from theory. He has led research and development at Seloart for two decades. The company grew from a sign writing shop in Achimota into a production house that uses multiple software platforms for design and manufacturing.
He says the same digital fundamentals that power sign making and CNC production can and should power fashion training.
“By teaching students to design with production data in mind from the start, we are not just teaching them to be designers, we are teaching them to be entrepreneurs and production managers. Software platforms can automatically generate a bill of materials, 2D technical drawings for cutting patterns and machine parameters for automated cutting. Those are the exact outputs manufacturers need to scale a concept into mass production,” he wrote.
Wider benefits for TVET and the economy
Selorm argues that the push should not be limited to fashion. The same technology integration could transform all TVET disciplines by equipping students with job ready skills at graduation.
Digital design knowledge feeds faster prototyping, less waste and better opportunities in fast growing fields such as 3D fashion design, digital pattern making, virtual fit technology and sustainable design.
Global brands are already seeking talent with these skills. Companies such as Nike, Adidas, Zara and luxury houses look for professionals who can bridge creative and technical workflows.
Equipping students with these tools means Ghanaian graduates can compete for high value roles or run export ready small manufacturing businesses.
What it would take
Selorm Betepe calls for practical policy moves. He wants design software taught in classrooms, industry partnerships, and access to hardware and to the internet.
“Autodesk software such as Fusion 360, which facilitates the modelling of parts for processing and mass production including material lists, should be mandatory for these students,” he wrote. He also urged schools and training centres to forge links with industry so students learn real world production requirements, not just theory.
A clear pathway
If schools mandate core software training, pair students with industry mentors and invest in basic lab facilities, the benefits would be immediate.
Students would graduate with portfolios full of testable digital samples, familiarity with production data and the capacity to collaborate across borders. The result would be less craft and more industry, fewer one off pieces and more stable businesses and jobs.
A closing note from experience
Having overseen R&D at Seloart and trained on CNC and laser technologies abroad, Selorm speaks from a career lived at the intersection of craft and technology.
“Technology is the great equalizer. It provides the platform for unlimited creativity, ensures seamless integration into the global market and gives our graduates the technical prowess that international companies actively seek. By mandating these tools, we are not just teaching a software program, we are granting our students a passport to the global stage,” he wrote.
If the viral Keta student represents raw talent, then Selorm Betepe’s prescription shows how talent can scale.
For Ghana to turn flashes of brilliance into sustained industry, schools, policy makers and the private sector must invest in the digital tools that transform creative work into global commerce.
