Appiah launches clothing range

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has become the first African footballer to launch his own clothing range.

The Turkey-based midfielder unveiled his new range of clothes that he helped designed in the early hours of Tuesday in Accra.

Amid tight security, he was joined by Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and legendary Ghanaian boxer Azumah Nelson to reveal the StepApp clothing line.

The heavily attended event was also witnessed by all the players of the Ghana national team as well as several ministers of state of the West African country.
Appiah said part of the proceeds will go to financing activities of his charity, the StepApp Foundation, which caters for the needy across the African continent.
?I have always been concerned about the plight of the needy but I saw Rwanda extreme poverty in Rwanda about five years ago and has moved me to take action,? the Fenerbahce icon said.

?From that moment I decided to set up the StepApp Foundation and with my love for clothes I decided that my own clothing line can help generate more funds for the cause.?

Togolese Adebayor said: ?When Appiah told me about this idea I was very touched and wanted to be part of it.

?Today top African footballers are looking for dynamic ways of using their popularity to help alleviate some difficulties on the continent.?
Essien, who is a national team-mate and a close friend of Appiah, said he will help to make the brand popular in Europe so as to generate funds for the foundation.

At the clothing range's launch, fans waited outside the cordoned-off area in an attempt to get a glimpse of their football idols.

The StepApp collection features T-shirts, shoes, wallets and purses and will expand to bags, jeans and jackets next year.

Appiah, who is one of the best-known faces in African football, hopes his clothes will appeal to all ages across the continent.

The products will initially go on sale in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and the rest of Africa before reaching Europe and the United States next month.
Players like David Beckham and Freddie Ljungberg earn thousands of dollars, not just as professional footballers but as the faces of designer brands.
But Appiah is the first African player to venture into fashion alongside his football career.