The GTBank
Fashion Weekend may seem novel for a financial institution, but it is
part of the bank’s long history of supporting the local fashion
industry.
Foremost African
financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, last week announced the
debut of the GTBank Fashion Weekend, set to hold on the 12th and 13th
of November 2016, at the GTCentre, Oniru, Victoria Island. With the
bank being the first financial institution to pioneer such initiative,
it is important to understand its motive for organizing such an event
and necessary to know what guests will gain from attending.
Why is GTBank Organizing a Fashion Weekend?
Perhaps the short
answer is: To promote enterprise in the SME sector of the Fashion
industry. The not-so-short answer would begin with the fact that GTBank
actually has an extensive footprint in fashion that goes back several
years. The bank has sponsored two of the country’s leading fashion
events, The Arise Fashion Week and The Lagos Fashion and Design Week,
for a combined period of five years. The bank has also contributed
significantly to raising the international profile of African fashion
through collaborations including the Ndani Installation at Selfridges
and the “Double Club” Collaboration with PRADA.
The GTBank Fashion
Weekend is thus an extension of the bank’s long tradition of supporting
the local fashion industry and African fashion in general. However, the
Weekend extravaganza is much bigger than whatever the bank has done in
the past to support Fashion because it not only aims to celebrate
African fashion but to directly boost both the expertise and exposure of
small businesses and create a platform that will truly serve the
stakeholders in the fashion industry. As Mr Segun Agbaje, the Managing
Director of GTBank, puts it, “[it is all about] growing SMEs in a
sustainable manner that is not driven by profits but focused on
empowering our customers and growing our economy collectively.”
At the core of the
Weekend are fashion MasterClasses, where entrepreneurs will have the
unique opportunity to interact with and learn from global fashion
industry leaders, and Retail Exhibitions which will showcase the wares
of dozens of SMEs within the fashion industry for patronage from guests.
An example of how effective retail exhibitions can be is seen in the
very successful GTBank Food and Fair held in May where over 25,000
guests helped over 100 SMEs achieve record sales of their products.
Why Should I Attend the GTBank Fashion Weekend?
Again, the simple short
answer: The Weekend will provide the ultimate fashion experience that
anyone intrinsically interested in Fashion cannot afford to miss. For
the longer version of that answer, think of the GTBank Fashion Weekend
as a perfect blend of the glitz and glamour of fashion with the vibrancy
of trade fairs and the enlightenment of workshops. Attending the event
will not only get you thrilled, but also leave you thoroughly
entertained and greatly empowered, all of which will cost you absolutely
nothing.
Given that the Weekend
is positioned as a sequel to the GTBank Food and Fair, one thing that
you are sure to be treated to is an awesome atmosphere dense only with a
spectacular array of top personalities and industry leaders. Just as
the Food and Drink fair brought together critically acclaimed
international chefs, the GTBank Fashion Weekend will pack a punch of
fashpacks – from world renowned fashion personalities to globally
recognised brand owners, trend setters and designers. These fashion
aficionados will all join together to make your experience of the
Entrepreneurial and Fashion MasterClasses, Retail Exhibitions, and
glamorous Runway Shows a memorable one.
At the fashion
MasterClasses, you will have the direct opportunity to interact with and
learn from local and international fashion industry leaders. With the
MasterClasses themed Promoting Enterprise, expect to learn a lot about
how to make a profitable business out of fashion. As well as being
treated to a sizzling series of Runway shows featuring collections by
renowned Nigerian and international luxury brands, expect also to enjoy
an amazing showcase of a diverse range of affordable and luxury apparel,
footwear, accessories, beauty items, and much more from budding
indigenous SMEs.
Ultimately, the GTBank
Fashion Weekend is one that you cannot afford to miss not only because
of the fun-filled and memorable it will be, but also because of the
significant boost that it will give to SMEs involved in Fashion and the
fashion industry in general.
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