Interdisciplinary Collaboration Culminates in New Ghana Study Abroad Program
The relationship between Buffalo State University’s Africana Studies and Fashion & Textile Technology (FTT) programs has resulted in multiple collaborative endeavors over the past five years, including enhancements to Runway, FTT’s annual student-produced fashion show; the creation of a Fashion Scholarship and the new course FTT 389: Black in Fashion; and student-designed merchandise for an Africana Studies fundraiser. This spring, FTT and Africana Studies students will reap the benefits of the most exciting collaboration yet: a study abroad trip to Ghana.
A cohort of 11 Buffalo State students—comprising FTT majors and Africana Studies majors and minors—will visit Ghana for 10 days in January 2025, accompanied by FTT lecturer Erin Habes, ’03, ’19; FTT assistant professor Shantell Reid, Marcus Watson, associate professor and Africana Studies program coordinator; and Watson’s wife, Sadia, who is Ghanaian and will serve as culture broker, linguist, and guide. Participating students must have taken either FTT 389 or AFS 373: “Saving” Africa; some have taken both.
“Africana Studies is multidisciplinary—we have courses from all different departments,” said Watson. “And Africana and fashion—it’s a natural connection.”
“This is exciting for all of us,” Habes said. “This is the culmination of the past five years of working together. We have learned so much.”
When conversations between Habes, Reid, and Watson began a year ago, Ghana was a mutual first choice.
“West African culture is different—vibrant, diverse, confident,” Watson said. “The fact that we’re giving an opportunity for students to go to West Africa—the origin point of most people of African ancestry in America—makes it different.”
“Everything just kind of organically came about, like it was meant to be.”
Habes said that, as they worked on making the trip a reality over the past year, everything seemed to fall into place.
“Everything just kind of organically came about, like it was meant to be,” she said. “I was on Instagram and saw that [former FTT student] Sam Boakye has a brand made in Accra, Ghana. We were awarded funding from the Grant Allocation Committee to bring Sam to Buffalo State to talk about his brand and his experiences in Ghana. He was a judge for Runway and did a wonderful talk in the Social Hall.”
Watson, who lived in Ghana for a full year, admits that he was unaware of Ghana’s presence in the fashion world.
“I never knew about all the fashion in Ghana,” he said. “That’s what’s so great about this. Africana Studies is going to open eyes to culture, and FTT is going to open eyes to fashion.”
Students will experience Ghana’s culture first-hand, learning culturally appropriate ways to greet, eat, travel, negotiate, and more. The itinerary—created with help from Connecting Cousins Travel, an agency with a mission to connect people of African descent to the continent—is filled with historical and cultural excursions such as touring the castles of Cape Coast, paying homage to freedom fighter W.E.B. DuBois, and visiting local vendor markets and restaurants. Students will also delve into the fashion landscape by observing everyday styles, visiting designers and production facilities, and witnessing the making of Ghana’s famous Kente cloth. The group will also meet with and experience the work of THE REVIVAL, a community-led organization creating awareness, art, and jobs with upcycled global textile waste coming to Ghana.
“I did a ton of research on fashion and textiles in Ghana,” Reid said. “In Accra, second-hand clothing is deeply woven into the markets and daily life, reflecting both its necessity and the overwhelming impact of global textile waste. There’s a growing movement of climate activism, with organizations like THE REVIVAL advocating for justice-led solutions and inspiring a shift toward upcycled fashion and more sustainable, equitable practices in the industry.”
“I hope the students will experience a vibrant culture that highly values humanity, where one can express themselves freely and feel what it’s like to be truly yourself.”
Habes, Reid, and Watson have high hopes for the trip’s impact on students.
“I hope the students will experience a vibrant culture that highly values humanity,” Watson said, “where one can express themselves freely and feel what it’s like to be truly yourself.”
“When I was about to leave for my study abroad trip during my time at Buffalo State, my mom told me to put out my hand, and she put a little sponge in it,” said Habes. “She said, ‘Be a sponge. Soak it all up.’ I hope they soak it all up.”
The trip is an important representation of the power of collaboration.
“Don’t let the lines that divide us—schools and disciplines, on and off campus—sever us,” Watson said. “Network; be kind. You just never know.”
Gifts to help offset trip costs for students can be made to the “We’ll Get You There” Study Abroad Fund through December 5. To donate, visit the website.
