Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) has brought together fashion designers, retailers and creative entrepreneurs from across Africa and beyond for its ninth annual Fashion Weekend, using the two-day event to promote business opportunities and expand the international visibility of African fashion.
The exhibition, held on November 7 and 8 at the GTCentre in Oniru, Lagos, featured runway presentations, industry masterclasses, retail exhibitions and a dedicated streetwear showcase.
Operating under the theme "Fashion Is Timeless", the event provided 140 curated retail outlets with an opportunity to display clothing, accessories and lifestyle products directly to consumers.
The platform is designed to help smaller fashion businesses attract customers, test products, build brand awareness and establish commercial relationships beyond their immediate markets.
Twelve designers from Africa and other parts of the world were scheduled to showcase their collections across the two days. Saturday's runway featured Tongoro, FIA Factory, Ibrahim Fernandez, Washington Roberts, Maison Sara Chraibi and Imane Ayissi.
Sunday's presentations included Sukeina, House of Marvee, Selam Fessahaye, Kim Shui, Ohlanna Bu Zikora and LaQuan Smith.
Beyond the fashion shows, participants accessed masterclasses led by professionals from the fashion, beauty and entrepreneurship industries. Sessions featured fashion entrepreneur and digital creator Sherlina Nym, Rachel Ojuromi and Renee Morris, founder of natural hair brand Uncle Funky's Daughter.
A skincare masterclass led by Buttah Skin also formed part of the programme, while the Streetwear Hub showcased businesses operating at the intersection of fashion, youth culture and contemporary lifestyle.
A major addition to the 2026 edition was the launch of the GTCO Fashion Collective, a year-round platform intended to connect designers, models, stylists, photographers, editors, buyers and content creators.
GTCO Group Chief Executive Segun Agbaje said the initiative would extend the commercial and professional relationships developed during the annual event, allowing participants to continue sharing knowledge and accessing opportunities throughout the year.
Since its launch in 2016, the Fashion Weekend has developed into a consumer-focused business platform for the African fashion industry. GTCO says previous editions attracted more than 700,000 fashion enthusiasts, supported 410 small business owners and featured 69 industry leaders from 13 countries between 2016 and 2025.
The event's model combines consumer retail with professional development, allowing emerging businesses to engage buyers while learning from established players in the global fashion industry.
For African designers and small retailers, access to customers, distribution networks and international visibility remains a major challenge. Corporate-backed platforms such as the GTCO Fashion Weekend offer an alternative route to market, although sustained growth ultimately depends on businesses converting event exposure into repeat customers and longer-term commercial partnerships.
The introduction of the Fashion Collective signals GTCO's intention to turn the annual exhibition into a more continuous support network for the continent's creative economy.
