By Okosun Dennis
The 2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend may have come and gone but the glamour, thrills, beauty of fashion, the class and styles, the handsome young men, and exquisitely beautiful and gorgeously dressed ladies that attended the fashion groove gave a sterling impression of the two-day show that will continue to reverberate in the minds of the enthusiastic participants both physical and online.
Never in a long time have I witnessed the assemblage of youths dressed and masquerading within the large expanse of GTCO Centre situated at Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos between 11-12 November 2023.
At the Masterclass, interestingly, the veteran journalist who has gained tremendous respect in fashion journalism, lifestyle, and beauty across print and digital publication; a proud black American and black woman, Julee Wilson, didn’t disappoint the large audience that sat and listened to her lecture.
In her speech, she left a lesson of a strong-willed woman who, despite all odds, scaled every hurdle and made it to the apogee of her cherished career in journalism.
Hers was a demonstration of the spirit of resilience considering that she was rejected in Essence Fashion magazine three times when she applied to work there. Describing writing as “cutting a diamond”, there is nothing that takes a lot of time and work as writing hence when it yields results, the inherent satisfaction is unparalleled.
In her description in a conversation with the Sun Newspaper, Julee said: “I was rejected at Essence three times and I cried over this. When people see my resume they are like you worked at Essence. I applied at Essence three times and I was turned down before I got a call.
“People will see your magic when they see your magic. I am hardworking. Essence called and that to me was a sort of motivation. I never gave up, I said to myself you have to keep doing what you are passionate about. There were times I thought I was not going to make it. I thought about how I would come to the limelight in this industry. Stay on course, and do the work, rejection is not an experience anyone should hide but rather use as a potent weapon for a comeback. I tell stories at Essence.
“Don’t allow opportunities to slip, you need to make use of each as they come. It’s so important, to open your mouth and make sure you conquer. It’s not just about beauty and make-up, I equally talk about politics.
“I celebrate the doneness of black women. That is what I do to tell black stories at Essence. Essence is a magazine for Black women. So when at Cosmo I was offered a job opportunity I made them realize that I tell black stories.
Her strong will, passion for her job, and tenacity resonated throughout her conversation during the masterclass, no doubt that the clapping ovation was unprecedented.
In his recap at the 2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Segun Agbaje, said; “Fashion is not just about making items of clothing or style accessories, it is about exploring feelings and channelling creative expressions to create experiences that resonate with various buyers, across different markets.
“The GTCO Fashion Weekend is constantly evolving to reflect the rapid growth of the global fashion industry in terms of size and sophistication, as we continue to draw on the endless possibilities in fashion retail to create better outcomes for individuals, indigenous businesses, and our communities.
He further said, “The landscape for fashion design is always shifting; so too are consumer needs. The 2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend provides a unique opportunity for local fashion retailers to seize on emerging trends and buyers’ preferences to reposition their businesses and thrive amidst the uncertainties and complexities of the future.”
No doubt that the Street Wear fashion was a class. Classic and demonstrated the ingenuity of numerous designers that displayed their crafts; placing a high premium on the beautifully crafted designs that reflect and can be worn at different climatic conditions.
The GTCO Fashion Weekend is one of the main platforms of Guaranty Trust Bank for ‘Promoting Enterprise’ primarily to benefit its growing retail and SME customer base as well as support the indigenous Creative Industry.
Guaranty Trust Bank is the flagship subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, a leading financial services company providing banking and non-banking services across eleven countries spanning West Africa, East Africa, and the United Kingdom.
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