FASHIONISTAS, CULTURATIS, AND TOURISTS: HOW GTCO IS EMPOWERING AND ENTHRALLING THEM ALL
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Since the GTCO Fashion Weekend began six years ago in Lagos, Nigeria, it has become a melting pot and a fushion point for fashion designers and exhibitors, fashion lovers and window shoppers, art enthusiasts, culture ambassadors, and tourists within Nigeria, across Africa, and worldwide. Now, Trek Africa Newspaper can inform that the city of Lagos eagerly anticipates the November of every year to enjoy the latest trends, unique experience, and side attraction that GTCO brings for the fashion industry in Nigeria.
This year’s edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend which held Saturday 11th – Sunday 12th November was a pot pourri of activities and events. Speaking on the landmark project which ranks alongside the best across the globe, the Group CEO of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Mr. Segun Agbaje affirmed that ‘The GTCO Fashion Weekend is constantly evolving to reflect the rapid growth of the global fashion industry in terms of size and sophistication, as we continue to draw on the endless possibilities in fashion retail to create better outcomes for individuals, indigenous businesses, and our communities.’
‘Fashion is not just about making items of clothing or style accessories, it is about exploring feelings and channelling creative expressions to create experiences that resonate with various buyers, across different markets. The landscape for fashion design is always shifting; so too consumer needs. The 2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend provides a unique opportunity for local fashion retailers to seize on emerging trends and buyers’ preferences to reposition their businesses and thrive amidst the uncertainties and complexities of the future.’
The walkway at GTCO Fashion Weekend had scores of models who enthralled the audience with their distinct styles and beauty as they strutted to the sounds of rich music from the heavyweight sound systems. The models were adorned in various eye-catching and captivating designs which included official wears, casuals, dinner wears and night wears. All these wowed the guests predominantly the young generation who were in attendance and they reciprocated with loud noise and cheers of admiration.
Spectacular fashion designers such as Banke Kuku, Duaba Serwa, Theophilio, Ejiro Amos-Tafiri and vendors like Boundless Apparel, the Dickson’s, Bemi Ivory, Angel Adeniyan had their day in commendation, networking, and sales.
There was a series of masterclasses during the two-day event. The speakers include Sergio Hudson, Julie Wilson, Jawara Wauchope among others. The American fashion designer, Sergio Hudson, who spoke on ‘Unveiling The Path To Fulfiling Dreams’ said fashion enthusiasts must deliberately create love for the industry to be able to thrive well in it. The fashion business is structured around designers, if you do not have a fashion designer, you won’t have fashion magazines and need for stylers. And like I always say, you need to have love for this business in order to work in it’. Beauty Editor and Writer, Julee Wilson who spoke on the topic ‘Black is Beyond Beautiful’ lauded the beauty in being black, the different fashion content emanating from Africa and how improvements could come to play. On her part, Jawara Wauchope, an international hairstylist who discussed ‘Hair Sculpting’ gave a vivid explanation of how to make contemporary and trendy hairstyles.
The GTCO Fashion Weekend paraded some of the biggest fashion exhibitors within and outside Nigeria. They all expressed their excitement and joy at the possibilities which the GTCO Fashion Weekend offered the fashion industry. The exhibitors include Casual Queen Clothing, SAS Textiles, FF Accessories, Earring stores by Ola, The Skirt factory, Yarnicist crochet, Bethan, Made by Nayo, Culinary work, magic finger small chops, firewood jollof, billups drinks, chow noodles, papas grill, hajia fragrance booster, La Primavera, Jeansdare, Odega Lagos 1, Swim Suitplus, Lawiza ventures, MDFC, Food city, Lonani Allure, The Henna Place Ltd, Shop Baddies, Ako Africa, Outspoke ‘N Bespoke Tailors, Desmonds & Company, Xtamaliy Limited, Refined Style, House of Treshatrendy, MDFC, Wunniss Jacob Enterprise, Lauxes Lingerie, QAMA, Foot city, David Black Moore, Hoi Polloi, Sekinat, BFits Ng, Sue signature, Zaron and so on.
