GTBank, London institutes to train Nigerian designers

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), in collaboration with Frallain Inc and Istituto Marangoni, has organised a year-long fashion, arts and craft workshop, aimed at developing the Nigerian fashion industry.

The programme tagged: 'Lagos Fashion and Design Week Fashion Focus' will give fashion designers an opportunity to participate in targeted workshops and networking sessions from now till next year.

According to the Creative Director, LFDW fashion focus, Wadami Omolegbe, 'Fashion Focus' is aimed at developing the Nigerian fashion ecosystem by nurturing the very best of talents through intensive workshops and classes delivered according to international standards so they can compete in fashion industry locally and globally.

The workshop features 15 participants selected from among 100 entries by the LFDW Fashion Focus judges, Kehinde Okunoren, Wadami Amolegbe, Dimeji Alara and project co-coordinator, Oluwabunmi Alake, of the British Council.

A comprehensive three-day workshop was organised for the 15 designers during the first phase of the activation series, in partnership with various institutions and industry leaders from Nigeria and the United Kingdom. It featured facilitators from Yaba College of Technology, as well as Nike Awoyinka, the Head, International Development, Ravensborne, UK, Elena Corchero, Lost Values, UK, Iain and Andrew Foxall, Foxall Studios, UK.

The participants will have a chance to showcase their work in front of a select audience during the Guaranty Trust Bank Lagos Fashion and Design Week, 2014.

One of the 15 finalists, Temitayo Nathan, CEO of T.I Nathan, said, 'I enjoyed every part of this experience. I learnt the ethics of fashion trade and how we could work with our hands to make fabrics and accessories. I also learnt how to mix wearable technology with fashion, how to tackle retail spaces and boost customer service with technology.'