Global Dialogues

Explore ideas of sustainable fashion with social designer, Abrima Erwiah, recent recipient of the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America Lexus Sustainable Fashion Award. Via video-conferencing, Erwiah discusses Studio One Eighty Nine and its impact on the Ghanaian/African fashion industry, in conjunction with the exhibition Repair and Design Futures.
Free with admission.
Abrima Erwiah is the co-founder of Studio One Eighty Nine, an artisan-produced fashion brand and social enterprise that has recently won the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability. Alongside her friend and partner, Rosario Dawson, Erwiah has built a globally renowned lifestyle brand that produces African and African-inspired content and clothing.
At its core, Studio One Eighty Nine is more than a brand – it’s a full-fledged movement focused on creating jobs, supporting education, and partnering with organizations such as the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative and NYU Stern School of Business. Additionally, the brand has collaborated with brands such as Edun, Fendi, Nike, and Net-a-Porter. She and the brand have received a multitude of awards including Upenn Martin Luther Kind Jr Social Justice Award, AAI Institute Entrepreneur Award. Erwiah is a guest lecturer for universities and has spoken at a number of prestigious events including at One Young World, NYU, Harvard, FIT, Parsons... She is a published author having contributed work to books such as Fashion Tribes. She volunteers her time with various organizations including Fashion Revolution, Lower East Side Girls Club, 14+ foundation, Vday.
Studio One Eighty Nine is the culmination of Erwiah’s extensive career in social justice, luxury fashion, and brand building. Previously, Erwiah received her Bachelor of Science degree in finance and international business from NYU Stern school of Business and developed a master’s degree from NYU Gallatin where she studied the economic impact of luxury goods in Africa. She has worked as Operations Adviser for the UN ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative and as Marketing Advisor to the UN Agribusiness division. Erwiah was the Global Associate Communications and Marketing Director at Bottega Veneta, and has also worked for luxury brands including Hermes, Cesare Paciotti and Bureau Betak.
Erwiah’s mission is to do work that contributes to society through sustainable development.