…From skincare innovation and luxury fashion to business mentorship and retail opportunities, the ninth edition of the Lagos showcase reinforces GTCO’s growing role in nurturing Africa’s creative economy
Fashion, entrepreneurship and business innovation converged in Lagos as thousands of designers, fashion enthusiasts, vendors and industry stakeholders gathered for the 2026 edition of the GTCO Fashion Weekend, an annual showcase that continues to strengthen the connection between creativity and commercial enterprise.
Held at Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Lagos, the event transformed the venue into a vibrant marketplace of ideas, products and opportunities, bringing together established fashion entrepreneurs, emerging designers, beauty innovators and aspiring business owners.
Beyond its colourful displays and fashionable runway moments, the ninth edition demonstrated how the Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) initiative has evolved into an important platform for enterprise development, knowledge-sharing and mentorship, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.
Through exhibitions, masterclasses and interactions with industry leaders, participants were offered more than an opportunity to showcase their products. They gained access to practical business lessons, professional networks and potential customers in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
*Masterclasses: Where Beauty Meets Business*
One of the notable attractions was a masterclass by Ihsan Bilal, National Director of Sales and Education – East at Buttah Skin, whose professional experience spans retail education, sales strategy and brand development.
Bilal, who plays a central role in bringing the skincare brand’s products to consumers through major American retail outlets, including Ulta, Macy’s and JCPenney, engaged participants on skincare, personal grooming and the importance of understanding individual skin needs.
She encouraged attendees to develop consistent skincare routines, beginning with identifying their skin types and adopting basic practices such as daily facial cleansing, toning, moisturising and protecting the skin.
She also highlighted the importance of products such as rosewater toner and vitamin C serum as part of an appropriate skincare routine.
Her presentation extended beyond beauty advice. Through her work with Buttah Skin, Bilal has helped develop retail training strategies, equipping sales associates with the knowledge and confidence to communicate the benefits of the brand’s melanin-conscious skincare formulations.
Her masterclass illustrated how education, product knowledge and effective brand storytelling can strengthen customer relationships and improve business performance.
*Olamide Olowe: The Power of Storytelling and Nigerian Creativity*
Another compelling session featured Olamide Olowe, founder and chief executive of Topicals, whose entrepreneurial journey has earned her international recognition.
A Forbes Under 30 entrepreneur and investor, Olowe has raised millions of dollars in venture capital funding and established Topicals as one of the fastest-growing skincare brands in the United States, with a strong presence at Sephora.
Speaking on the relationship between entrepreneurship, creativity and brand identity, she emphasised that a compelling business narrative is essential to building a successful brand.
For Olowe, entrepreneurs must remain authentic, develop the confidence to defend their ideas and accept that not everyone will immediately understand their vision.
She described her session as an opportunity to explore the concept of building brand worlds, promising participants practical insights that could be applied to their businesses and personal development.
Olowe also delivered a powerful message about Nigerian creativity and the importance of self-belief.
“One of the reasons I am so successful is because I am Nigerian,” she said, urging Nigerians to recognise the creativity, work ethic and distinctive perspectives they bring to the global marketplace.
She encouraged young people to draw inspiration from their environment, pursue their ambitions and recognise that creativity is already within them.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2015 when she co-founded Sheagirl in partnership with SheaMoisture, a venture that was subsequently acquired by Unilever in 2017. In 2020, she founded Topicals, combining her interest in beauty, creativity and business.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Olowe has contributed more than $200,000 to mental health organisations and received recognition from institutions including Harvard Business School and Google.
Her message resonated with the wider purpose of the GTCO Fashion Weekend: that African creativity can become a globally competitive commercial asset when supported by innovation, strategic thinking and determination.
*Vendors: Turning Creativity into Commercial Success*
For participating vendors, the event’s greatest attraction was the opportunity to meet customers, generate sales and establish relationships that could sustain their businesses beyond the exhibition.
Mimmi Chima, chief executive of MIMMI KASU, described her participation as a rewarding experience, having exhibited at the event in 2022, 2023 and 2026.
She said the platform had consistently provided valuable exposure for her brand, adding that the current edition had attracted considerable interest in the products on display.
At this year’s exhibition, MIMMI KASU showcased suits from Anita’s collections, displayed on mannequins and clothing racks.
Chima explained that the fair had become an important business opportunity, particularly given the prevailing economic challenges facing entrepreneurs.
According to her, bringing buyers and sellers together under one roof creates commercial opportunities that many small businesses might otherwise struggle to secure.
She praised the organisers for sustaining the initiative and encouraged emerging entrepreneurs to remain consistent, understand their market niche and stay faithful to their brand identity.
For her, returning for a third time was itself an indication of the value the event continued to offer.
*From Port Harcourt to Lagos: Aura by Nimi Finds New Opportunities*
For Emmanuella Opigo, founder of Aura by Nimi, the 2026 edition represented an exciting first experience.
Travelling from Port Harcourt to Lagos to participate, she said she arrived with expectations of increased sales, new customers and opportunities to expand her business network.
Her brand specialises in affordable luxury nightwear designed for women, wives and brides-to-be, with an emphasis on confidence, comfort and personal expression.
Opigo explained that her philosophy was to encourage women to embrace their bodies and feel confident regardless of their sizes or shapes.
Although it was only the first day of the exhibition, she disclosed that she had already secured sales and established useful business contacts.
She described the experience as encouraging and expressed enthusiasm about returning for subsequent editions.
The entrepreneur also highlighted the brand’s nationwide free delivery and international shipping services, demonstrating how small businesses are increasingly using digital commerce to extend their reach beyond physical locations.
With a touch of humour, she thanked customers for their patronage and promised additional gifts, including perfume oils, to appreciate their continued support.
*David Wej: Creating Space for the Next Generation*
Among the prominent industry figures at the event was Adedayo David Eweje, the Nigerian fashion entrepreneur and creative director behind the menswear brand David Wej.
As one of the pioneers of the GTCO Fashion Weekend, Eweje said his presence at the 2026 edition was partly to support emerging and established entrepreneurs.
Unlike previous editions, he was not exhibiting his own collections, explaining that he wanted younger designers to enjoy the platform and opportunities that had contributed to the development of the fashion industry.
He described the initiative as a commendable demonstration of GTCO’s commitment to supporting enterprise, particularly within the fashion sector.
Recalling his participation in the first, second and third editions, Eweje encouraged emerging designers to remain creative, persistent and committed to improving their craft.
He also advised young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the GTCO Fashion Weekend, noting that platforms of this nature could provide the exposure needed to move businesses to the next level.
While acknowledging that the organisers had performed well, he said he would need to experience the current edition more fully before suggesting what could be introduced differently when the event reaches its tenth anniversary.
*Beyond Fashion: An Investment in Africa’s Creative Economy*
The 2026 GTCO Fashion Weekend once again demonstrated that the fashion industry extends far beyond clothing and runway presentations.
It encompasses skincare, beauty, retail, manufacturing, branding, logistics, digital commerce and a growing ecosystem of creative businesses capable of generating employment and stimulating economic activity.
For vendors such as MIMMI KASU and Aura by Nimi, the event offered direct access to customers and commercial opportunities. For established entrepreneurs such as David Wej, it represented an opportunity to encourage the next generation. Meanwhile, the masterclasses delivered by Ihsan Bilal and Olamide Olowe reinforced the importance of knowledge, strategic thinking and international competitiveness.
Ultimately, GTCO’s initiative has become more than an annual fashion gathering. It is an investment in the people, ideas and businesses shaping the future of African creativity.
With admission remaining free and open to the public, the Fashion Weekend continues to make professional exposure, business networking and industry knowledge accessible to a wider community of entrepreneurs.
As the event approaches its tenth edition, its enduring significance may lie not merely in the designs displayed or the personalities who grace its platform, but in the businesses it helps build, the entrepreneurs it inspires and the economic opportunities it creates.
