Lagos, Nigeria – September, 2017
Fashion lovers all over the world can once again look forward to an unparalleled fashion experience as the 2nd edition of the GTBank Fashion weekend is set to hold on the 11th and 12th of November, 2017. The 2-day event will treat attendees to an enthralling journey across a wide variety of Africa’s finest styles and trends whilst offering small businesses in the Nigerian Fashion Industry a free and vibrant platform to connect with a wider segment of their consumers as well as experts in their industry.
The GTBank Fashion weekend is a free business platform that was created by foremost African Financial Institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, as part of its efforts to showcase the best of Africa’s Fashion to a global audience whilst promoting the effervescent enterprise of the continent’s growing fashion industry. The 2016 debut of the consumer-focused event received very positive reviews nationally and internationally. Attracting over 30,000 guests over the 2-day period, the event featured a series of master classes, runway shows and a curated retail exhibition – creating the biggest, most thrilling exposé of African fashion to take place on the continent till date. The retail exhibition gave the over 90 Small Businesses that participated the opportunity to exhibit, sell and connect with consumers, as well as discover new markets.
This year’s Fashion Master Classes will feature global fashion experts such as reality TV personality and runway coach Jay Alexander, best known for his work on America’s Next Top Model, to award winning fashion designer, Giles Deacon and multi talented Nigerian photographer TY Bello.
Other fashion and global media experts scheduled to host master classes at this year’s GTBank Fashion weekend include; Editor in-Chief of Essence Magazine, Vanessa De Luca; Vanessa Kingori MBE, publisher of the British GQ Portfolio (her appointment takes effect in January 2018); professional Makeup Artist and Educator, Danessa Myricks; Fashion Consultant and PR Expert Sophie Hadley; Fashion Editor & Style Consultant, Shiona Turini and Buyer, women’s wear, Rebecca Osei-Baidoo.
Fashion enthusiasts will also be treated to the ultimate shopping experience as dozens of Small Businesses will showcase a diverse range of carefully curated affordable and luxury apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty items, and much more. As part of the retail experience there will be a crafts market featuring indigenous fabric and accessories. Each day of the event will close with a series of epic Runway shows featuring Africa’s finest designers and renowned international designers.
Commenting on the 2017 GTBank Fashion Weekend, Mr Segun Agbaje, the Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank explains the vision behind the event as an “initiative that is unlocking growth opportunities for small businesses and putting African fashion on a global pedestal. The 2017 GTBank Fashion Weekend will not only give visibility to the amazing talents and entrepreneurial drive of our people at home, it will also connect them with fashion leaders abroad, in order to build local capacity and expertise across the entire Fashion Value Chain.”
GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The GTBank brand is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation.
The Bank is also going beyond the traditional understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility as corporate philanthropy by intervening in key economic sectors through non-profit consumer focused fairs and capacity building initiatives for small businesses operating in these sectors.