When Julian Frimpong traveled through northern Ghana, he wasn’t planning to start a lifestyle brand. Frimpong, a software developer, had spent years working in tech. His regular visits to rural craft communities changed his trajectory after seeing the level of skill, detail, and cultural heritage woven into handmade baskets, leather goods, and décor. These products were made with beauty and meaning but had limited market access.
Through his participation in the Master of Business Creation (MBC) Global program at the University of Utah, Frimpong is now building Akan Republic, a sustainable lifestyle brand that connects African craftsmanship with retail, hospitality, and design buyers through wholesale partnerships.
“I saw what the women and men were creating in these villages — the baskets, the leatherwork, the designs — and it was fascinating,” Frimpong said. “But the market access just wasn’t there. They were mostly waiting for local market days. I knew there had to be a way to bring their work to a larger international audience.”
He worked with his cousin, Felix Ofori Gyamfi, with a long-term goal of building international operations. After refining the concept, he returned to the villages to share his ideas, particularly around new color palettes and design variations.
“I was amazed at how quickly they understood new design directions,” Frimpong said. “They told me, ‘This is not going to be a problem, we can do it.’ That’s when I knew this could grow.”
Akan Republic focuses on handmade, ethically produced home and lifestyle goods that blend traditional African techniques with modern design. Unlike mass-produced décor brands, the company prioritizes transparency in sourcing, fair pay to makers, and the preservation of authentic cultural techniques.
“These are not machine-made or generic products,” Frimpong said. “When someone puts one of our pieces in their home, they should know it comes from real people putting real care into their work. The money goes back to support families and communities.”
Achieving export-level quality standards has been one of the biggest challenges facing the company. Frimpong often travels to different production areas to oversee finishing and durability.
“One thing about working with handcrafted supply chains is you must invest in quality control,” he said. “We want every product leaving Ghana to meet international expectations.”
While there were some early logistical challenges, including putting the export of natural shea butter on hold, it didn’t stop Akan Republic from pushing forward. Since then, it has expanded into both Europe and the U.S., where demand has been strong. The company is now focused on wholesale growth with designers, hospitality partners, and retail buyers.
“Our next phase is becoming a stronger wholesale distributor,” Frimpong said. “We want to scale through partnerships while keeping the community impact at the center.”
Frimpong credits the MBC program with helping him prepare for that scale.
“I love that my company becomes the focus of what I’m learning,” he said. “Everything finance, pitching, operations revolves around building Akan Republic the right way. It’s been a very strong foundation.”
As Akan Republic grows, Frimpong hopes to increase international awareness of the craft communities behind each product and eventually host large regional showcases in northern Ghana to spotlight their work.
“We want to put real light on these makers,” he said. “Their craftsmanship deserves to be seen worldwide.”
Learn more about Akan Republic at akanrepublic.com.
