“Marketing opened my mind to the business of creativity” – fashion designer Michael Brett Odoom

Ghanaian fashion designer Michael Brett Odoom attributes his approach to building a career in fashion to his training in marketing and visual arts. Speaking on Daybreak Hitz with Kwame Dadzie and Doreen Avio on August 13, 2026, Odoom explained how studying Marketing at Cape Coast Technical University provided him with a perspective on the business aspect of creativity.

He emphasized that while creativity is important, understanding how to position, price and promote products is crucial for reaching the right customers and ensuring a successful business. Odoom co-founded The Cultured Man, a menswear and fashion accessories brand, with his wife, Bernice Kwarteng. He revealed that his interest in fashion stemmed from a longstanding passion for creativity, which he developed in high school through studying Visual Arts.

However, Odoom's path changed when plans to travel abroad fell through due to financial constraints. This forced him to reassess his options and find ways to utilize his skills. During his national service, Odoom and his then-girlfriend, now wife, started creating and selling ties. This experience led to the eventual establishment of The Cultured Man/Nateev.

Odoom's story illustrates how integrating creativity with business knowledge can help Ghanaian creatives build sustainable ventures.