Young people have called on organisations to review rigid workplace dress codes and allow employees greater freedom to express themselves through their clothing while maintaining standards of decency.
The call was made on Springboard, Your Virtual University, during an episode of What Young People Are Saying which examined changing fashion trends among young people and their implications for workplaces, churches and society.
Fashion designer Golden Adams said organisations should be more open to creativity and innovation in how employees dress, arguing that professional clothing does not always have to follow the same traditional patterns.
She noted that even within formal sectors such as banking, there could be room for employees to introduce creative elements into their dressing while maintaining a professional appearance.
“Decency is also another topic. It’s right to be decent, and then it’s also right to be innovative and creative in how you dress and look,” she said.
Another panelist, Asantoa, argued that organisations should allow employees to be themselves, provided they understand the expectations of their workplace and dress appropriately for their roles.
She suggested that organisations could consider designated days when employees are allowed greater freedom in their choice of clothing, while maintaining more formal standards on other days.
Student and panelist Abigail also linked workplace dress to employee happiness and productivity, saying young people should be able to express themselves while still meeting professional standards.
She said organisations could allow employees to enjoy greater freedom in their dressing because being comfortable and happy at work could contribute to productivity.
The discussion also challenged the tendency to judge young people’s seriousness or competence based on their appearance. The panel noted that unconventional dressing could sometimes be a form of self-expression or a desire not to conform to traditional expectations.
Fashion designer Kwaku Bediako, founder of Chocolate Clothes Global, said changing trends should not be allowed to overshadow the individual, stressing the importance of understanding a person’s personality and preferences when designing clothes.
He also said businesses should be open to new ideas from younger people, noting that changes in fashion can reflect wider changes in how young people think and express themselves.
Host Rev. Albert Ocran, in his closing remarks, said employers should consider the possibility that what may appear to be rebellion in a young person’s dressing could also reflect a desire to innovate.
He urged organisations to look beyond appearance and give young people the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, particularly where their work produces the required results.
The episode also examined the growing acceptance of Made in Ghana clothing, with the panel encouraging Ghanaians to patronise locally produced fashion and recognise that Made in Ghana goes beyond traditional African prints and Kente.
Watch full episode here https://www.youtube.com/live/67MzkQruLns?si=SCZOHNU5fd5YJwgU
About Springboard, Your Virtual University
Springboard, Your Virtual University, is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast produced by the Springboard Road Show Foundation and hosted by Pastor Albert Ocran. The broadcast airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Joy 99.7 FM and on Springboard Channel & Albert Ocran (Facebook & YouTube), and at 9 PM on Joy News TV.
The episode is part of the ongoing What Young People Are Saying series on Springboard, Your Virtual University, which explores issues and trends from the perspective of young people and creates room for honest conversations about everyday experiences, work, education, relationships, career development, and other matters that shape their lives.