Major Gains Of The 2024 GTCO Fashion Weekend

The 2024 edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend has come and gone, but its cascading gains are far from over.

The highly anticipated event, hosted from Saturday, November 9, to Sunday, November 10, 2024, reinforced GTCO’s strong connection with upwardly mobile people, especially young individuals.

GTCO stands for Guaranty Trust Holding Company, the holding company with leading financial institution GTBank (Guaranty Trust Bank) as its flagship subsidiary.

Its yearly GTCO Fashion Weekend provides a global platform for creative individuals in Africa, particularly designers, to showcase the products of their skills on a global stage. This year was no exception.

The masterclasses—led by fashion editor Lulu Kennedy and popular fashion influencer Patricia Bright on Saturday, followed by world-renowned makeup expert Sheika Daley and famous hairstylist Ted Gibson on Sunday—offered invaluable knowledge and opportunities.

“Through the industry experts, participants gained insights into branding, sustainable fashion practices, and market expansion strategies. This will naturally help creatives scale their businesses properly,” shared one attendee at the event.

Both Lulu Kennedy and Sheika Daley announced their desire to work with locals to achieve next-level development in their respective fields.

“I am open to working with African young fashion designers. It is not something we have done before,” said Kennedy, who was visibly impressed by the scale of the event.

“I see myself working with Nigerians because my goal is to come to Nigeria,” Daley enthused during the event, which was held at Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos.

The opportunities presented at the event add to the immediate and projected economic boosts from the GTCO Fashion Weekend.

The styles and outfits of the guests mirrored the stunning designs showcased by diverse designers, including Oríré, Ituen Basi, Romeo Hunte, Tolu Coker, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Xu Zhi, Onalaja, Hue by Idera, Jewel Jemila, Lohije, Minie, Laquan Smith, Moye Africa, Ibilola Ogundipe, Elpis Megalio, Selly Baby Mane, and Eric Raisina.

It was a fusion of different cultures—iconic, classic, contemporary, and over-the-top—with extraordinary colors adding vibrancy. The food was another highlight, featuring local delicacies such as bean pottage, Akara (bean cake), Iyan (pounded yam), roasted yam, fried plantain, and more.

The mix created the perfect stage for networking. Designers, buyers, and other industry stakeholders came together, opening doors for collaborations, securing investments, and forming partnerships.

Several attendees confirmed that many guests left with potential business leads.

As an annual consumer-focused fair, the GTCO Fashion Weekend aims to exhibit the best of “Africa’s finest fashion to a global audience.”

With that comes the fostering of cultural appreciation through designs that integrate elements of African heritage, directly or indirectly.

The 2024 edition ticked this box, with the runway—a permanent attraction for many—showcasing numerous designs that celebrated the pride of African artistry.

This was achieved without compromising innovation, as demonstrated by the forward-thinking approaches to styles that graced the alluring runway.

It goes without saying that the fair turned out to be a win for organizers, resource persons, participants, and related stakeholders in terms of visibility.

The conversations around the event have been unending—for all the right reasons.

The event’s live streams, social and traditional media coverage, as well as mentions and engagements, have amplified its reach to unprecedented heights. 

This positions the GTCO Fashion Weekend as a pivotal event while further entrenching GTCO—which boasts a presence in multiple countries and caters to diverse markets—as a global brand.

Like other past editions, this year’s GTCO Fashion Weekend was also free entry.