Route J-1

By Lauren Aitken, Cultural Vistas sponsor organization

Papa Oppong reviews designs at the DC Fashion Foundation Incubator

After designing a collection in collaboration with Swarovski and interning for Rosario Dawson, people knew that Papa Oppong, a Ghanaian fashion designer, would go places. But it wasn’t until his U.S. internship at the DC Fashion Foundation that he found his passion project: combatting Malaria through fashion.

Papa is an artist at the DC Fashion Foundation Incubator (DCFI) through the Train USA J-1 Internship Program, where he shares a studio with six other designers on the program.

Papa has already made life-long connections with artists and other members of the fashion incubator. Yanique Moore, a Washingtonian designer, helped Papa create his first website. Fellow connections like Tsemaye Binitie, another J-1 intern, have exposed Papa to different styles, techniques, and business practices. “There are so many different things [to learn] from different people in the program…it’s just amazing.”

“That’s the good thing about internships. It’s about building connections.”

Papa Oppong discusses design ideas with colleagues

Then last fall, a group of scientists approached Christine Brooks-Copper, CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation, with their malaria-repellant fabric. She immediately saw the potential for fashion – and felt Papa Oppong would be the perfect designer.

With Jennifer Fisher, Director of External Affairs at the DC Fashion Foundation, and Dr. Samuel Hancock of Emerald Planet, they are working on what they call “The Malaria Project.” Papa wants to turn the fabric into a colorful line of clothing for children five-and-under, to protect them against rampant malaria in Ghana. “It’s used to make blankets, but we’re using it to make clothes.” He himself has had malaria multiple times. “I have seen what it does to families in Africa.”

“We can make these clothes for the country, but I also want to create employment,” says Papa. “For most of these traders on the street, tie-dye and batik is something they can easily do. It would be a great source of employment.”

The Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States likes the idea so much that he’s connecting Papa with the Ministries of Health and Education to educate people about Malaria.

Knowing his audience, he’s still working on how to turn the fabric into clothing that the community will actually want. “Ghanaians love color,” says Papa. Once he determines the best way to dye the fabric, he’ll work on the development of the product. “My main goal is to keep everything in Ghana, besides shipping the fabric.”

Through the incubator, Papa has found a passion project that he’ll continue for years to come. “It’s a lifelong project…it’s something I always want to work on.”

Categories: Program Spotlight