GTCO Fashion Weekend day 1 celebrated Africa’s finest on the runway. From Ituen Basi’s drama to Mmuso Maxwell’s redefining of office wear, the runway was brimming with creativity and futurism.
Orange, white, and a Beauty Hut mascot dancing at its entrance; it is impossible to miss the GTCO Fashion Weekend happening on Water Cooperation Drive on November 8 and 9. While the runway shows are the major attraction, GTCO Fashion Weekend is a phenomenon with several activities, including masterclasses, vendor stalls, and a streetwear hub.
The event covers all aspects of modern fashion — bespoke, ready-to-wear, high street, and high fashion. This has made it into an annual pilgrimage for style-makers and industry insiders.
The sun is at its brightest, and as thousands of guests arrive, they’re welcomed by an open boulevard — the perfect backdrop for street style moments and lively vox pops. The ambience is energetic; everyone’s outfit tells a story: some want to play it cool, and others are here to rival the runway. Also, the atmosphere delivered an electrifying spectrum of African fashion, proving once again that Lagos is the continent’s undisputed style nexus.
With an audience as stylish as this, the designers at GTCO Fashion Weekend had their work cut out for them… and they didn’t disappoint.
Read also: These are the designers we are watching out for at GTCO Fashion Weekend 2025
This runway was a captivating dialogue between heritage, body language, and futurism, with models using every stride and expression to bring the show’s message to life. At the Sevon Dejana show, a model in an embellished velvet corseted dress posed and contoured her body as if she were directing an orchestra.
The designers dared to push the boundaries of texture, silhouette, and commentary. The energy was palpable, leaving a lasting impression of unapologetic creativity and glamour.
Here are the highlights from the runway!
Ituen Basi: A graphic and glorious statement
Fiery red, neon orange, and bare-chested men; the collection saw a new side of the eponymous label, Ituen Basi. The collection, both graphic and gloriously embellished, set the tone of sophisticated drama.
Her mastery of textiles and cutouts shone through in a sharp palette dominated by arresting black and white —brilliantly punctuated by unexpected bursts of blue, fiery red, and a splash of neon orange. The movements of fringe and strategic cut-outs that offered a modern flash of skin defined the collection.. Silhouettes were clean and confident, from the tailored, cropped blazer to elegant A-line dresses, occasionally dipping into vintage revival with a flirtatious drop waist.
The styling — including playful headwear and a subtle hint of Logomania with T-shirts that read “IT”. The show’s finale saw models strut out with placards that read “Ituen Basi X Wale” on one side, and “Legacy” on the other.
The Bam Collective: Pop-art perfection
The Bam Collective took us out of West Africa and straight to the vibrant world of South Africa.. Their collection brought a much-needed dose of joy and graphic energy, offering a vision that felt like a wearable manifesto on pop-art perfection. The collection’s strength lay in its wavy textures that adorned dresses and blazers. It featured brocade fabrics alongside playful prints, from chequered board denim to whimsical polka-dotted pieces.
Colour was a central character, with colour blocking moments of purple and red. Vibrant shots of hot pink, powerful red, and acidic neon green brightened the runway. The models embodied this bubbly energy as they walked.
Architecturally, the brand sculpted the body with exaggerated details like the dramatic peplum and the statement-making bubble skirt. Touches of childlike wonder, like artfully placed flower petals and intentionally visible socks, cemented the collection’s reputation as fearlessly fun and fundamentally fabulous.
Sevon Dejana: Where royalty meets runway
Sevon Dejana’s show was an exercise in pure opulence and theatrical glamour, perfectly blending meticulous tailoring with high-wattage embellishment. The collection felt like a procession of modern-day royalty, defined by the extensive use of shimmering velvet in romantic floral motifs, and there was the occasional use of the colour puce.
Accessories included lavish pearls, with one notable dress featuring dropping pearls that created a soft, ambient sound with the model’s stride—an auditory feast for the front row.
Silhouettes were theatrical, featuring exaggerated hips and a beelike dress that immediately recalled Mugler’s most iconic creations.
The styling, from voluminous head wraps to intricate fringe and tailored blazers, ensured every model glided with undeniable sass, cementing the show’s status as the audience’s favourite for red carpet moments to come.
Mmuso Maxwell: The new rules of business casual
The South African duo behind Mmuso Maxwell offered a masterclass in business casual, blurring the lines of office wear with a collection that was both functional and highly conceptual.
The designers grounded their palette in blue and essential neutrals. The collection’s genius lay in its structural signatures: circle and keyhole cut-outs that revealed glimpses of skin in a controlled way.
Pieces ranged from sharp blazers and mini jackets to everyday denim, featuring clean stripes and a recurring drop waist that elongated the figure. The overall mood was one of intentionality, proving that there’s a space for structure and business in fashion.
Mowalola: The audacity of sultry streetwear
Breaking her one-year hiatus, Mowalola hosted her first show of the year. Its runway was a subversive, high-octane celebration of self-expression, reaffirming her reign as the Queen of rebellion. The show was drenched in her signature leather, setting a sultry, rock-and-roll tone that pervaded every look.
Silhouettes were provocative, featuring ultra low-waist cuts and the unapologetic Alexander McQueen bumster pants that redefined the waistline. The accessories — chunky boots, statement big bags, and casual face caps—translated a confident, streetwise sensibility. The colour story was striking: dominant black punctuated by vivid green and electric neon pink. Every element, from the fringed details to the powerful bomber jackets and barely-there bikinis, was executed with a fierce model walk that perfectly captured the collection’s spirit.
Ahluwalia: Heritage meets global street style
Priya Ahluwalia delivered a compelling vision that beautifully merged her Nigerian-Indian heritage. The collection was a canvas of thoughtful print work, layered with functional pieces like tailored blazers and hooded pieces.
A central theme was texture, achieved through dynamic fringes and structural forms like the voluminous bubble hem. The palette focused on a deep, lush green, accented by shocks of pink and a sprinkle of red. The styling — complete with heavy-duty boots and functional vests — perfectly captured the spirit of a global citizen: stylish, thoughtful, and ready for anything.
Looking ahead
From the graphic pieces of Ituen Basi and the exuberant The Bam Collective, to the theatrics of Sevon Dejana and the boundary-pushing streetwear of Mowalola, the runway delivered a thrilling narrative of heritage, futurism, and uncompromising individuality. Designers like Mmuso Maxwell and Ahluwalia also added dimension, presenting a range as diverse as it was compelling.
It was colourful, playful, and unforgettable. GTCO Fashion Weekend continues to prove that African fashion is more than tradition; it’s attitude, artistry, and unapologetic individuality.
