Since its founding in 2016, the Guaranty Trust Fashion Weekend has grown to become a well-known venue for highlighting the abilities of African fashion designers and providing help to smaller companies within the sector. The event, which is slated for November 11 and 12, 2023, will bring together global fashion leaders and specialists. It offers local fashion businesses a great chance to get more exposure online, break into new markets, and set themselves up for long-term success.
Online masterclasses conducted by well-known fashion industry professionals will be offered at this year’s Guaranty Trust Fashion Weekend. These master workshops are designed for fashion enthusiasts and entrepreneurs alike, and they will provide insightful information on how to create and maintain fashion businesses in the present and future markets. The eagerly awaited Runway Show will also take place at the event, featuring a carefully curated collection of bold and captivating fashion statements from Africa’s top brands.
This year’s prominent designers at the occasion include:
1. Sergio Hudson: Sergio Hudson is a well-known fashion designer who mixes exquisite tailoring with a blend of seductive and androgynous features in his ready-to-wear line. With a feeling of beauty, bravery, elegance, confidence, and attractiveness, his designs seek to empower women. Notable individuals such as the current Vice President and former First Lady Michelle Obama have been clothed by him.
2. Banke Kuku: Known for her designs that are sold to both domestic and foreign stores, Banke is a trailblazer in the fashion and design industries. She has established herself in interior design in addition to working with recognised worldwide fashion businesses. Her extravagant loungewear line, which features striking designs, is a reflection of her varied experiences in Lagos and London.
3. Zhang Huishan: Zhang Huishan is a designer with a background in Dior haute couture, and he infuses his Chinese heritage with a global perspective to create elegantly feminine silhouettes. His ambition is to establish a premier luxury Chinese lifestyle brand that goes beyond fashion.
4. Ejiro Amos-Tafiri: Ejiro is the creative mind behind a women’s fashion line based in Nigeria that combines contemporary garment fabrication methods with traditional African dress. She is a talented artist who has shown her collections at fashion events all around the world and worked with renowned celebrities.
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5. Theophilio: Started by Jamaican-American designer Edvin Thompson, the brand emphasises sustainability while fusing Brooklyn’s urban vibrancy with Jamaican tradition. The clothing line promotes variety and individuality by providing a selection of clothes that is empowering and self-expressive.
6. Mazelle: Mariam Afolabi Badmus creates designs that combine Adire motifs with modern styles, frequently integrating hand-beaded embellishments and sequins. She draws inspiration from her African roots and popular culture.
7. Duaba Serwa: With a focus on ease and minimalism, Duaba’s designs include smooth lines and a striking colour scheme. She is renowned for her knowledge of origami folds, triangular pleats, and smockwork, emphasizing Slow Fashion and sustainable craftsmanship.
8. TORLOWEI: Patience Torlowei founded this upscale ready-to-wear company with a lingerie-inspired aesthetic. The brand is well-known for its stunning designs and has been shown in upscale establishments such as the lingerie department of Harrods.
9. BruceGlen: Bruce and Glen, twin brothers, have always had a strong interest in fashion. In addition to designing accessories and celebrity brands, they succeeded in launching a daring and inclusive sustainable apparel line in 2021.
10. Loza Maléombho: Loza blends traditional African aesthetics with a sophisticated, contemporary flair in her fashion designs. She was born in Brazil and raised in both Côte d’Ivoire and the United States.
11. SUKEINA: Established by Omar Salam, SUKEINA is renowned for its forward-thinking, inventive, and strikingly sophisticated aesthetic. Salam is driven by his desire to give women more autonomy and his unique perspective, and it represents a tribute to his late mother.
These designers represent a diverse range of styles and backgrounds, making the 2023 Guaranty Trust Fashion Weekend a must-watch event for fashion enthusiasts and industry professionals.
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