The 2018 GTBank Fashion Weekend begins today and asides from all the runway showcases set to take place on today and tomorrow, we are super excited about the masterclasses which offer a unique opportunity to learn from global industry leaders and experienced brands. It ties into GTBank’s purpose to promote enterprise within the fast-growing Nigerian Fashion Industry.
This year’s line up of speakers is worth looking forward to as there is a diverse selection of talented personalities in the global fashion industry. Take a look at all the experts heading masterclass sessions at #GTBankFashionWeekend2018.
Jay Manuel
Jay Manuel is one of the most popular personalities in the fashion media space. Beginning his career as a Makeup Artist, Jay quickly became an admired fashion and beauty expert and has worked with some of the fashion industry’s icons such as Iman and Tyra Banks.
With over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry, Jay has worked on some of the decade’s hottest television fashion shows including E! Network’s “Style Her Famous”, CW Network reality series “America’s Next Top Model”, and“Style Rocks the Red Carpet” for New York Fashion Week to name a few.
On the 10th and 11th of November 2018, Jay Manuel will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to lead a masterclass on building a global makeup and beauty brand.
Dapper Dan
With his eponymous store on 125th street, Dapper Dan pioneered streetwear in the early 1980s, co-opting luxury branding to design original garments with high-end detail. A leading driver of the 80s chic style, Dapper Dan began making clothes in Harlem, during which he was known for giving rap its signature music style, styling everyone from Big Daddy Kane to Mike Tyson.
In 2017 Gucci partnered with Dapper Dan to reopen his atelier as well as release a Gucci-Dapper Dan collaboration exploring the design synergies between the designer and Gucci’s creative director.
Dapper Dan has been featured on platforms including The New York Times, Elle, Vogue W Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, CNN, and Netflix. His works have been on display at The Smithsonian, The Museum at FIT, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Museum of Modern Art.
Date: Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
Time: 4:45pm – 5:45pm
Venue: Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Dapper Dan will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to share his insights on Making A Fashion Statement.
Kahlana Barfield
Fashion insider, style savant, and beauty correspondent, Kahlana Barfield Brown has carved a niche for herself in the ever-evolving, uber-competitive world of fashion and beauty. From writing countless feature stories to reporting live on the red carpet, Kahlana rose through the ranks of fashion journalism to become an authority and one of the most recognizable faces in the industry.
Now a TV personality and style connoisseur, Kahlana regularly appears on national television shows such as Today, Good Morning America, The View, Extra and Entertainment Tonight to offer her expert insights on a wide range of fashion and lifestyle topics.
Date: Saturday, November 10th, 2018.
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Venue: Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Kahlana Barfield Brown will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to lead the discussion on “Sticking to Your Plan A”.
Taofeek Abijako
20-year-old, Nigerian-born Taofeek Abijako is a young designer recognized for his ability to express social and political commentary through the lens of “luxe-street” clothing. Abijako’s brand, Head of State+ is a New York-based company that focuses on art, fashion, furniture, and product design.
In 2018, Abijako presented his Spring/Summer ’19 collection for Head of State+ at New York Fashion Week, making him the youngest designer ever to show at that prestigious event, giving him widespread acclaim across the industry.
Abijako has received press coverage with renowned magazines and websites like the New York Times, Teen Vogue and i-D Magazine. Head of State+ is sold internationally in prominent stores like United Arrows, Assembly and American Rag Cie.
Date: Saturday, November 10th, 2018.
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Venue: Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Taofeek Abijako will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to discuss on Understanding the Industry: Starting Out.
Nicholas Kirkwood
In the last decade, Kirkwood’s designs have gone from cult appeal to entering a wider consciousness and proving instantly recognizable. An alumnus of London’s Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design and Cordwainers College, Kirkwood’s shoes are now worn by the fashion cognoscenti and celebrities alike including Beyoncé, Marion Cotillard, Gigi Hadid, Gwen Stefani, Cate Blanchett, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rihanna.
It is perhaps no surprise that Nicholas Kirkwood has won numerous awards including being given the British Fashion Award for Best Accessory Designer of the year three times and in 2013 being the first accessories designer to ever be awarded the British Fashion Council / Vogue Designer Fashion Fund since its inception.
In 2011, Nicholas Kirkwood opened his flagship store on Mount Street, London which followed the announcement of his partnership with LVMH: the biggest luxury goods conglomerate in the world.
Date: Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Venue: Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Nicholas Kirkwood will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to lead the discussion on The Art of Building an Empire with Heels.
Nikki Ogunnaike
Nikki Ogunnaike is the go-to style expert for the 25 million+ users, fans, and followers of what is now the largest fashion and beauty magazine website.
She also represents the brand on television and in ELLE.com videos. Anytime you need a mix of style that is equal parts accessible and forward-thinking, Ogunnaike is on it
The Nigerian-American editor cut her teeth at InStyle as an Assistant Editor and Vanity Fair as a fashion assistant before moving to Glamour.com as their Senior Fashion Editor.
Nikki will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to discuss Diversity in Fashion.
Burak Cakmak
Burak Cakmak has facilitated successful collaborations for over a decade with a wide range of stakeholders including suppliers, retailers, NGOs, governments, and the media in order to drive positive, ethical industry change.
Cakmak was named Dean of Fashion at Parsons in 2015 after working at Swarovski Group as the company’s first Vice President of corporate responsibility where he was instrumental in implementing best practice industry standards across business.
Prior to Swarovski, Cakmak worked at Kering as its first Director of corporate sustainability, spearheading innovation-driven sustainability strategies for the luxury group’s brands, including Gucci, Stella McCartney, and Bottega Veneta.
Cakmak is passionate about education and has established projects and partnerships in the US, UK, France, China, Brazil, and India.
Burak Cakmak will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to lead the discussion on Building a Fashion Ecosystem.
Stavros Karelis and Anna Trevelyan
Stavros and Anna share an array of accomplishments:
They are both recipients of Business of Fashion’s 500 shaping the fashion industry, the GQ’s award and The Guardian “Club 100”.
Stavros Karelis and Anna Trevelyan are passionate about supporting and developing young fashion brands and design talents through mentorship and giving retail spaces in MACHINE-A.
Come learn about Fashion Curation from these pros at the #GTBankFashionWeekend.
Nai’vasha Johnson
Nai’vasha is a New York-based hair stylist and the hands behind some of the most iconic hairstyles ever seen on the red carpets. She specializes in natural hair, hair color, wigs, and men’s grooming. Her celebrity clientele includes Yara Shahidi, Sasha Lane, Uzo Aduba, Logan Browning, Lakeith Stanfield, John Legend, and Common.
Nai’vasha has collaborated with top photographers such as Scott Trindle, Yelena Yemchuk, Nagi Sakai, Bruce Weber, Bjorn Iooss, and Renell Medrano on shoots appearing in major publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, ELLE, W, Harper’s Bazaar, and Allure. Additionally, Nai’vasha worked on major campaigns for Aerie, Google, Chanel, Bloomingdale’s, Tory Burch, and Tiffany & Co.
Date: Sunday, November 11th, 2018.
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Venue: Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Nai’vasha will be at the GTBank Fashion Weekend to share professional tips on How to Express Yourself Through Hair.
See you there!