For nine years, GTCO Fashion Weekend has proven that a financial institution can spark Africa’s most vibrant enterprise-driven fashion movement.
As the event prepares for its ninth edition on November 7-8, 2026, at Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos, the platform is taking a major leap forward to expand its impact.
In a press briefing held on Thursday, Oyinade Adegite, Group Head of Corporate Communications at GTCO, revealed a monumental addition for this year’s edition: the introduction of a dedicated Craft Fabric Market.
For the first time in the event’s history, the fair is opening a direct spotlight and commercial arena for the grassroots artisans behind African fashion.
From Aso-oke weavers to Adire dyers, the craft fabric market ensures that the traditional makers who form the backbone of the continent’s textile heritage share centre stage with high-fashion runways.
Reinforcing this commitment to long-term industry sustainability, GTCO also unveiled the GTCO Fashion Collective-a year-round ecosystem designed to maintain commercial momentum, continuous dialogue, and strategic collaborations among designers, models, stylists, photographers, buyers, and creators long after the main event ends.
A core component of the new Collective will be a digital manufacturer and textile directory. This permanent, searchable home will index indigenous artisans and producers, bridging the gap between local textile creators and global fashion brands.
‘Over the past nine years, the GTCO Fashion Weekend has built Africa’s most exciting fashion experience,’ Adegite noted, highlighting how the new platform will serve as an enduring foundation for creative enterprise.
Designed as a multi-sensory, consumer-focused fair, the two-day Lagos event boasts a packed itinerary:
The Debut Craft Fabric Market: A dedicated space honouring indigenous textiles and the artisans who create them.
Curated Pop-Up Stores: This will feature over 140 fashion, accessories, and lifestyle brands.
High-Impact Masterclasses: Led by global industry voices, including Renee Morris, Sherlina Nym, and Rachel Ojuromi.
Presentation Stage: Spotlighting emerging brilliance from designers like Spectrum by Aisha, MSO Lagos, and Cisca Cecil.
12 Runway Shows: Showcasing standout collections from top African and international designers, including Sheye Oladejo, Meme Rocha, and Mide World.
By blending high-energy runway spectacle with practical support for indigenous textile crafters, GTCO continues to redefine how African fashion is showcased, sustained, and commercialised.