GTCO 2025 set the stage for something bold and unforgettable in the world of African design. I spent hours researching the line-up, reading preview articles, scrolling through photos, and imagining myself there—and in that imagining I saw the moment when creative energy married enterprise, when style became statement, when the runway became a platform for hope and change. GTCO 2025 opened on November 8th and 9th at the GTCentre in Oniru, Lagos, and from what I gathered the message was clear: fashion is freedom, design is dialogue, and Africa’s creative economy is marching forward.
In my mind I walked the corridors of the venue where masterclasses, exhibitions, and runway shows took place. I pictured the crowd gathering for the consumer-focused event that champions enterprise and accessibility. The organizers of GTCO 2025 emphasized that the runways remain free and open, welcoming both enthusiasts and insiders. And although I wasn’t there in person, I felt the buzz—because the names they selected for the runway confirmed the ambition.
One designer to watch from GTCO 2025 is Tongoro Studio, the Senegalese label founded by Sarah Diouf. The brand is described as a “100 % Made in Africa” house, known for monochromatic prints and strong storytelling through fabric. They aren’t just making dresses—they’re making declarations.
Then there’s Ituen Basi, a Nigerian veteran whose work plays with patchwork, newspaper prints, and humor. From the preview of GTCO 2025 I sensed she was going to deepen the conversation between nostalgia and modernity. I imagined the fabrics: bold colors, textures that tell stories, silhouettes that say “I am African, I am global, I am now.” Even if I wasn’t in the front row, I could feel the intention.
Another standout from the GTCO 2025 list is Mmuso Maxwell, the South African duo known for architectural tailoring and restrained palettes. They arrive at GTCO 2025 not just to show clothes, but to pose questions about identity, form, and gender through structure. I kept returning to their look book in my research: clean lines, sharp angles, clothes that seem carved rather than sewn. That kind of craft catches my eye.
I also found intriguing the inclusion of Tia Adeola—London-based but Nigerian-born—whose ruffled romanticism and soft power shine through her clothes. GTCO 2025 flagged her as a designer whose clothes speak of Black femininity with flourish. Imagine a cascade of ruffles, of movement, of a designer merging softness with strength. To me, that’s the kind of duality GTCO 2025 is promoting.
Then there is Priya Ahluwalia, British-Nigerian-Indian, with her focus on sustainability and cultural intersection. GTCO 2025’s spotlight on her made me think about how diaspora voices are reconnecting with the continent, and how events like this are platforms for that re-rooting. The promise isn’t just stylish clothes—it’s purposeful design.
And don’t forget Sevon Dejana, whose name appeared in the GTCO 2025 roster as a Nigerian couturier delivering luxury with a heritage twist. I pictured his velvet sets, sculptural embellishments, water-colors of craftsmanship meeting bold ambition. In the GTCO 2025 narrative he stands as a reminder: this isn’t just runway—it’s legacy.
What my research on GTCO 2025 also uncovered is how the event bridges runway show and enterprise fair. Reports noted the trade-fair portion where emerging brands displayed alongside established names; the masterclasses covering business, Styling, journalism; and the gallery exhibition tracing African fashion’s evolution. I liked that because it told me GTCO 2025 isn’t just about spectacle—it’s about solid foundations.
Because I didn’t attend, I admit some of this is imagination. But good imagination is grounded in fact: the list of designers at the runway includes names I named above—Tongoro Studio, Ituen Basi, Mmuso Maxwell, Tia Adeola, Priya Ahluwalia, Sevon Dejana—and others like Mowalola. In making “power picks,” I chose those whose work I’ve followed and whose inclusion in GTCO 2025 signifies something meaningful.
In the end, this year’s exciting power picks aren’t just about trend forecasting. They show us where African fashion is heading: to global relevance, to enterprise-driven growth, to cultural authenticity meeting refined craft. They remind me that style has purpose, that clothing can carry story, identity, ambition. In imagining their collections walking that Lagos runway, I felt the rush of possibility.
