GTCO Fashion Weekend 2025 Lagos comes alive with style and enterprise

 …by Adeleke Olubanwo 

The annual fashion-highlight for Nigeria’s creative scene, the GTCO Fashion Weekend 2025, rolled to a successful close after two days of bold design statements, emerging talents and a celebration of enterprise. The 8th edition of the event — held at the GT Centre, Plot 1 Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos — brought together fashion insiders, entrepreneurs, designers, models and an energized public eager to engage.

Theme & purpose: “Fashion Is Freedom”

This year’s theme — Fashion Is Freedom — underscored the weekend’s core message: fashion as self-expression, business, innovation and identity. According to the official site of the event, the aim is to showcase Africa’s fashion excellence while promoting enterprise in the continent’s growing fashion industry.

Highlights of the weekend

• Masterclasses & business talks: Weekends opened with masterclasses featuring respected global and African fashion leaders. British-Jamaican designer Bianca Saunders spoke on cultural storytelling and authenticity; co-founder of Trillbende, Jade Oyateru, led discussions on innovation in retail; and entrepreneur Melissa Butler shared insights from her beauty-brand journey.
• Runway shows & collections: The runway featured 12 shows this year and brought together leading fashion houses from Nigeria and beyond. Highlights included collections that fused African heritage with modern tailoring and sustainability.
• Street style and public energy: Beyond the runway, the real show was on the streets and public spaces of the event. Guests embraced bold colour, statement jewellery, experimental silhouettes, and fearless style choices. One editorial noted that the attendees “came, saw, and slayed without apology.”
• Retail & entrepreneurship zone: Hundreds of emerging and established local fashion businesses took stalls, connecting directly with consumers and industry experts. The event reinforced its role as a commerce-driven platform, not just a showcase.

Why it matters

The GTCO Fashion Weekend has grown into more than a fashion show — it’s become a vital node in Africa’s creative economy. According to the event’s “About” section, since its inception in 2016 it has helped uplift over 410 small-business owners and attracted leaders from 13 countries. For Nigeria, this kind of event plays a role in establishing Lagos as a fashion and creative hub, generating visibility for home-grown talent and new business models.

Standout moments & trends

• A shift toward authentic self-expression: Attendees were less concerned about fitting into traditional fashion boxes and more about reflecting their identity.
• Sustainable and culturally rooted design: Designers integrated African textiles, weaving traditions and ethical practices into modern garments.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: The convergence of masterclasses, retail stalls and networking emphasised that fashion here is business, not just art.
• Blurred boundaries: The divide between runway and street style narrowed — everyday attendees brought runway-attitude into public spaces, turning parts of the venue into impromptu catwalks.

What’s next

Looking ahead, the organisers reaffirmed their commitment to “promoting enterprise” and to connecting African creativity to global markets. For 2026 and beyond, one might expect even more crossover between digital fashion, global collaborations and deeper business education for African creatives.

In summary

The 2025 edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend delivered more than spectacle — it fostered conversation, commerce and creative freedom. With its inclusive crowds, strong business-content, and unapologetic style, Lagos once again showed that when fashion meets enterprise, the runway extends far beyond the stage.