GTCO Fashion Weekend spotlights indigenous textiles, global designs (PHOTOS) - Premium Times Nigeria

The ninth edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend ended in Lagos, with the launch of the GTCO Fashion Collective as a major highlight of the two-day event, which brought together African and international designers, fashion entrepreneurs, and creative professionals.

Held on 7 and 8 November at the GTCentre, Oniru, Victoria Island, the event featured runway presentations by 12 designers, a retail village housing about 140 fashion businesses, masterclasses and exhibitions celebrating indigenous craftsmanship.

Themed Fashion Is Timeless, the 2026 edition continued the financial institution’s efforts to promote African fashion and support small businesses through its Promoting Enterprise initiative, launched in 2016.

One major addition this year was the introduction of the Craft and Fabric Market, which provided a dedicated platform for indigenous artisans, including Aso-oke weavers and Adire makers, to showcase their work and connect with potential customers.

The market complemented the event’s retail village, which offered clothing, accessories and lifestyle products from about 140 selected businesses.

The outlets were chosen from more than 5,000 applications, providing emerging and established entrepreneurs with opportunities to display their products and reach consumers.

The runway shows featured a mix of established African designers and international fashion labels, with presentations exploring contemporary silhouettes, cultural influences, craftsmanship and individual creative expressions.

Day one’s presentations on 7 November featured Tongoro, FIA Factory, Ibrahim Fernandez, Washington Roberts, Maison Sara Chraibi and Imane Ayissi.

Tongoro opened the runway programme with a collection built around a black-and-white aesthetic, setting the tone for a series of presentations that reflected different approaches to contemporary African fashion.

The second day featured collections from Sukeina, House of Marvee, Selam Fessahaye, Kim Shui, Ohlanna Bu Zikora and American designer LaQuan Smith, who brought the runway programme to a close.

Beyond the main runway, the event also gave emerging designers a platform through its presentation stage. Participating labels included Spectrum by Aisha, MSO Lagos and Cisca Cecil on the first day, while Sheye Oladejo, Meme Rocha and Mide World presented their collections on the second day.

Another feature was the Streetwear Hub, which highlighted contemporary street fashion and youth-driven styles influenced by music, social media, heritage and international trends.

The weekend also featured masterclasses focusing on fashion entrepreneurship, brand development, photography, beauty and creativity.

Speakers included fashion entrepreneur and digital creator Sherlina Nym, photographer Rachel Ojuromi, Renee Morris, founder of natural haircare brand Uncle Funky’s Daughter, and Olamide Olowe, founder of beauty brands Topicals and Bread Beauty Supply.

The sessions explored issues including building sustainable businesses, maintaining creative authenticity, developing a distinct brand identity and navigating the opportunities presented by digital platforms.

However, the introduction of the GTCO Fashion Collective provided the event’s most significant industry development.

Unveiled by GTCO Group Chief Executive Officer Segun Agbaje and the group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Oyinade Adegite, the initiative is a year-round platform connecting professionals across the fashion value chain.

The collective will bring together designers, models, stylists, photographers, editors, buyers, content creators and indigenous textile producers, to create more opportunities for collaboration and commercial growth.

A key component is a Manufacturer and Textile Directory that will document local producers, including Aso-oke weavers, Adire dyers, and other textile artisans.

The initiative is intended to improve the visibility of indigenous fabric producers and connect them with designers and other players in the fashion industry, particularly those seeking locally produced materials for their collections.

By creating a platform that extends beyond the annual fashion weekend, GTCO hopes to strengthen the relationship between African designers and the artisans whose work contributes to the continent’s fashion identity.

The event also sparked conversations beyond the runway after videos circulated showing male attendees in unconventional outfits, including corsets, heels, and backless designs.

The outfits prompted differing reactions on social media, with media personality Enioluwa Adeoluwa defending the attendees’ freedom of expression.

Former Big Brother Naija housemate Tokunbo Idowu, popularly known as TBoss, expressed concerns about what she described as the gradual loss of masculinity.

Crossdresser Bobrisky subsequently criticised TBoss’s position, arguing that people should be allowed to express themselves freely.

Since its inception, the GTCO Fashion Weekend has combined fashion exhibitions, retail opportunities and industry conversations as part of efforts to support small businesses and promote African creativity.