MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / FASHION
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) has launched the GTCO Fashion Collective, a platform designed to connect people and businesses across Africa’s fashion industry throughout the year.
Akure —
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) has launched the GTCO Fashion Collective, a platform designed to connect people and businesses across Africa’s fashion industry throughout the year.
It will bring together designers, models, stylists, photographers, editors, buyers and content creators.
The initiative aims to help them build relationships, share ideas and find business opportunities beyond the company’s annual fashion event.
GTCO announced the platform ahead of the ninth edition of its Fashion Weekend, scheduled for November 7 and 8, 2026, in Lagos.
The company unveiled the initiative at a press briefing on Thursday, October 29. The launch adds a new part to its fashion programme by creating a network that can remain active after the weekend ends.
Fashion depends on many people, not only the designers whose work appears on the runway.
Models, photographers, stylists, editors, buyers and content creators also help brands develop and reach audiences.
The new platform will bring these groups into one network and encourage them to work together.
The network may also help businesses share information about services, skills and available products.
This matters because fashion projects often involve several specialists working together under tight deadlines.
When professionals can identify suitable partners more quickly, they may spend less time searching and more time developing their work.
However, the platform will need clear membership details and regular updates to remain useful.
The platform also aims to support people who work behind the scenes. Local textile makers and artisans provide materials and skills that shape many African designs.
Yet some small producers struggle to reach major brands and buyers. GTCO wants to give these businesses greater visibility through the collective.
One planned feature is a directory of manufacturers and textile producers. It will include local craftspeople such as Aso-oke weavers and Adire dyers.
These makers preserve important textile traditions while supplying materials that designers use in modern clothing and accessories.
The directory could help designers and buyers find producers more easily. It may also give artisans a way to present their work to customers outside their communities.
Better access to buyers could help small businesses secure orders, build partnerships and grow.
For artisans, the directory could offer a route to customers who might not otherwise discover their work. A weaver or dyer may have strong production skills but limited access to large retailers.
A well-managed listing could help close part of that gap. It would not replace investment or training, but it could make local producers easier to find when brands search for materials.
Aso-oke weaving and Adire dyeing require skills that artisans often pass from one generation to another.
By making these producers easier to find, the collective could encourage more fashion businesses to use locally made materials. It could also introduce traditional techniques to new audiences.
GTCO Fashion Weekend has become a major part of the company’s support for fashion and small businesses.
Since its launch in 2016, the event has brought designers, retailers, industry experts and fashion enthusiasts together in Lagos.
Its programme combines runway shows, retail exhibitions, masterclasses and opportunities for businesses to meet customers.
GTCO says editions held between 2016 and 2025 attracted more than 700,000 fashion enthusiasts.
The company also reports that the event supported 410 small business owners and featured 69 industry leaders from 13 countries.
In addition, it recorded 45 runway shows, 39 masterclasses and 19 fashion presentations.
The event also gives small businesses a chance to display products and speak directly with potential customers.
Masterclasses can expose participants to practical knowledge from experienced industry figures.
Meanwhile, runway shows can introduce designers to wider audiences and create interest in their collections.
The new platform could help maintain some of these connections after visitors leave the venue.
The ninth edition of GTCO Fashion Weekend will take place on November 7 and 8 at GTCentre, Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos.
The programme will feature runway presentations, masterclasses, retail outlets and a craft and fabric market.
The event will give designers and fashion businesses another opportunity to present their work.
The launch comes as African designers look for more ways to reach customers at home and abroad. A successful fashion business needs more than creative ideas and attractive collections.
It also needs reliable suppliers, skilled workers, buyers, distribution channels and useful industry knowledge.
Stronger links between designers and local makers may also support the use of indigenous fabrics. This could create demand for traditional skills and help keep textile practices active.
At the same time, fashion businesses could use local materials when developing collections for different markets.
However, a directory alone cannot solve every challenge facing small producers. Many artisans still need finance, equipment, training and steady orders.
They may also face high production and transport costs. Therefore, the collective’s long-term value will depend on whether it creates practical opportunities as well as connections.
The Fashion Collective gives GTCO a way to extend its support for the creative industry beyond its annual event.
If the platform works as planned, designers, artisans and other professionals could find partners and reach more customers.
It could also improve the visibility of textile makers whose work supports the wider fashion sector.
Attention will now turn to the ninth GTCO Fashion Weekend in Lagos. The November event will bring fashion professionals and enthusiasts together for two days of exhibitions, learning and runway presentations.
Meanwhile, the new collective sets out a longer-term plan for connecting people across the industry.
The real test will come after the event. GTCO will need to show that the network creates lasting benefits for its members. This will require steady member participation.
