GTCO Fashion Weekend Day 2 transformed the runway from a showcase of clothes to an immersive experience, with captivating performances and breathtaking designs that showcased the best of African fashion.
Fireworks, a James Bond scene, and a mini orchestra — the designers of GTCO Fashion Weekend Day 2 truly upped the ante. They showed the audience that a fashion show can be as thrilling as high-performance art. As the lights dimmed and brightened to reveal the next collection, each designer had created a multidimensional experience that kept the viewers cheering and awing.
Here’s every show you missed on day 2 of GTCO Fashion Weekend.
Tongoro Studio: The power of embellished black
Tongoro Studio opened the day with a dramatic and sophisticated statement rooted entirely in black. The collection was an exercise in power dressing, defined by striking, sculptural forms. Silhouettes featured dramatic, voluminous sleeves and a corseted structure, often paired with statement thigh-high thong boots. Dresses featured an all-black canvas meticulously detailed with shimmering rhinestones, intricate fringe, and delicate cowrie embellishments. This created a seamless blend of high-octane glamour and African heritage.
Tia Adeola: Subversive ruffles and electric energy
The Tia Adeola show was a theatrical spectacle, beginning with the immersive sound of a live trumpeter and cello. The collection itself was a vibrant, fearless celebration of maximalist fashion. Across sheer fabrics, metallics, and provocative cuts, including mini mini skirts and crop tops that flirted with the under-bust line, the designer amplified the signature gathers and ruffles. The designer’s signature gathers and ruffles were amplified across sheer fabrics, metallics, and provocative cuts, including mini mini skirts and crop tops that flirted with the under-bust line. A palette of electric blue, red, and neon pink dominated the runway. Models wore heavy blush and white eye shadow, accessorising with beaded bags and pieces featuring the Nigerian flag. The unapologetic energy of the collection was palpable, especially when the first model stopped to dance on the runway.
Imane Ayissi: Weaving cultures into high fashion
Imane Ayissi presented a collection deeply rooted in the richness of African craftsmanship and global fashion codes. The focus was on textiles, showcasing mastery in woven and dyed fabrics, as well as traditional Ankara, all elevated with subtle, sophisticated beading and textured elements like raffia and patchwork. Key silhouettes included cropped jackets and picturesque pieces with elegant draping and trains on mini dresses. The diverse palette—spanning from pink and red to deep green and brown—created a compelling, cross-cultural narrative, finalised with elegant styling details like gloves and floral accessories.
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Patrick McDowell: Poetic romance and dangling details
Patrick McDowell presented a collection of sustainable luxury defined by a poetic, romantic sensibility. The central motif was the flower appliqué, used in fresh and inventive ways. Most striking was a crop top where the flower stems were rendered as dangling beads, adding a sense of fluidity to the look. Pieces like a gorgeous grey blazer showcased a refined cinched waist and tailoring. The collection balanced form (corsets, capes) with delicacy, featuring sheer fabrics and mesh in an elegant, concise palette of black and red.
Stella Jean: The global graffiti of print
Stella Jean injected the runway with a riot of colour and print, showcasing her signature cross-cultural aesthetic. The collection was a maximalist feast, blending bold Ankara and heavy African prints with stripes and graffiti-inspired design. The pieces were an art of mixed print and patterns, often featuring motifs like the palm tree. The styling added to the exuberant mood with fiery head wraps, rain boots, beaded accessories, and a distinctive seashell necklace, all set to the rhythm of a French rap song.
Charles Harbison: An optimistic and playful performance
Charles Harbison closed the weekend by delivering a collection in tune with his self-described ethos of “optimistic luxury. An intellectual yet inherent show featured fabrics with an iridescent sheen and luxurious gold floral prints—seen on a stunning baroque matching jacket and dress. Silhouettes were clean and defined, interweaving modern details like puffer arms and puffer hemlines with historical designs like capes and empire-waist dresses. The show ended on a high-spirited note, with models striking playful final poses, including one who mimicked dodging a bullet like a James Bond scene — a confident and witty conclusion to the fashion weekend.
The grand finale: African fashion’s unapologetic individuality
Day 2 proved that African fashion is a force of constant innovation. From the rebellious spirit of Tia Adeola to the structural elegance of Tongoro Studio and the rich, woven narratives of Imane Ayissi, the runway delivered a thrilling narrative of artistry and uncompromising individuality. GTCO Fashion Weekend has once again affirmed its position as the ultimate showcase for the continent’s boundless creative energy.
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