African Motif Takes Centre Stage at UK Fashion Exhibition

A model showcasing an African design

Designers from Nigeria such as Agu, House of Silk, DOT Handbags, Odio Mimonet, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi, Jewel by Lisa, Eki Orleans, Ituen Basi and Tiffany Amber are at this moment showcasing Christmas collection exclusively at the Nigerian world pop-up store.

The fashion exhibition is an offshoot of a recent partnership launched by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) plc with Selfridges, UK to project authentic designs by talented African fashion designers. The collaboration tagged “Guaranty Trust Bank Presents Ndani” stems from the Bank’s commitment to project African Art to global audiences as a Proudly African and Truly International financial institution.

Ndani, organisers said, 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 and attributes, which the designers share with the GTBank brand.

The exhibition has already attracted several reviews and visits by fashion lovers from all over the world and is set to be a high point at the store throughout December 2012 and January 2013.

Commenting on the GTBank-Selfridges project, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GTB, Mr. Segun Agbaje said that supporting and promoting African art such as fashion internationally is one of GTBank’s major Corporate Social Responsibility thrust. “We will continue to forge strategic partnerships to create platforms for the contributions of Africans to the different genre of Art as an organisation positioned to harness the hidden potentials in Africa”, he said.

GTBank’s other recent art projects include 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. Furthermore, Ndani TV powered by Guaranty Trust Bank is an online platform, which seeks to promote the best of Africans in music, fashion, writing, technology and business. The platform tells their story from a uniquely African perspective and puts their works within the digital space