Day One of the GTCO Fashion Weekend opened in Lagos today with a dynamic lineup of activities, featuring inspiring masterclasses from global fashion leaders Bianca Saunders, Jade Oyateru, and Melissa Butler, alongside captivating runway showcases and marketplace exhibitions. Now in its 8th edition, the GTCO Fashion Weekend continues to celebrate creativity, enterprise, and innovation within Africa’s growing fashion ecosystem. This year’s theme, “Fashion Is Freedom,” reflects the role of fashion as a tool of expression, identity, and economic empowerment.
Sessions began with award-winning designer Bianca Saunders, who explored cultural storytelling and design authenticity in building a global menswear label. Jade Oyateru, Co-founder of Trillbende, shared strategies on driving growth in African retail through innovation and customer-focused business models, while Melissa Butler, Founder of The Lip Bar, inspired attendees with her journey from a small start-up to a successful global beauty brand.
The runway also came alive today with standout showcases from designers including Ituen Basi, The Bam Collective, Sevon Dejana, Mmuso Maxwell, Mowalola, and Priya Ahluwalia, who unveiled bold collections that blended African heritage, sustainability, contemporary tailoring, and vibrant design innovation. Their presentations drew excitement from thousands of fashion enthusiasts and industry players in attendance.
Across the retail marketplace, guests explored a wide range of apparel, accessories, and ready-to-wear pieces from both emerging and established fashion entrepreneurs, reinforcing the event’s mission to drive business growth and consumer engagement within Nigeria’s creative sector.
The GTCO Fashion Weekend continues tomorrow, featuring more runway shows, shopping experiences, and masterclasses. Attendance remains free, and guests can register or access the full event schedule via social media platforms; For live updates and behind-the-scenes highlights, follow GTCO on Instagram and other official social media platforms.
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) is a leading financial institution with a strong commitment to innovation, enterprise, and community development. Through its lifestyle and enterprise platforms such as the GTCO Food and Drink Festival and GTCO Fashion Weekend, the Group continues to drive opportunities for growth within Africa’s creative industries. GTCO operates in 11 countries across West, East, and Central Africa, as well as in the United Kingdom, serving millions of customers through its trusted banking, investment, and financial services brands.
Bianca Saunders, a fashion designer born and based in London, completed her BA in Fashion Design at Kingston University, then specialised in menswear during her MA at the Royal College of Art. Her masterclass, “THE Business of Creativity: Scaling a fashion Brand Beyond Wholesale,” explored cultural storytelling and design authenticity. Saunders has received major fashion awards, including the ANDAM Grand Prix and the BFC/GQ DesignerFashion Fund.
Melissa Butler, founder of The Lip Bar, shared her journey from a kitchen experiment to a successful global beauty brand, emphasising resilience and empowerment.
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