GTBank collaborates with UK based Selfridges to promote African designers

By The Citizen

In its bid to promote African culture and celebrate the continent’s rich art, Guaranty Trust Bank plcĀ  recently entered into a strategic partnership with a UK based Selfridges to project authentic designs by talented African fashion designers. The collaboration tagged 'Guaranty Trust Bank presents Ndani' stems from the Bank's commitment to the projection of African Art to global audiences as a Proudly African and Truly International financial institution.

According to the general manager, Communication & External Affairs of GTBank, Mrs Lola Odedina, Ndani represents the beauty of Africa and this is clearly demonstrated at a distinct pop-up shop in Selfridges' departmental store on Oxford Street in the UK. “The designs on display at the shop express the deep creativity, ingenuity and originality of African designers, attributes which the designers share with the GTBank brand”, she said.

Odedina further stated that the exhibition has already attracted several reviews and visits by fashionistas from all over the world and is set to be a high point at the store throughout December 2012 and January, 2013.

She disclosed that participating designers from Nigeria include: Agu, House of Silk, DOT Handbags, Odio Mimonet, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Jewel by Lisa, Eki Orleans, Ituen Basi and Tiffany Amber. “These designers are showcasing their Christmas/Cruise collection exclusively at the Nigerian world pop-up store during the project,’ she said.

Commenting on the GTBank – Selfridges project, the Managing Director and CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje said that supporting and promoting African art such as fashion internationally is one of GTBank's major Corporate Social Responsibility thrust. He stated that 'we will continue to forge strategic partnerships to create platforms for the contributions of Africans to the different genre of Art as an organization positioned to harness the hidden potentials in Africa'.

It could be recalled that Guaranty Trust Bank hadĀ  recently embarked on similar art projects such as its ongoing partnership with Tate, UK where it has appointed an international curator of arts and provides funds for the acquisition of African art by the gallery in addition to sponsoring annual art projects around the world.