Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos!

Amidst the city's shimmering lights, bustling red carpets, and alongside Nigeria's A-Listers and fashion innovators, the Guzangs’ brand story captured the spotlight with elegance and allure.

Thursday, March 14, 2024, marked an iconic day for the African creative sector, particularly in the fashion industry. Guzangs, a leading fashion and lifestyle platform celebrated for showcasing the landmark achievements of African designers, made its debut on Nigerian soil. This momentous occasion allowed a vibrant audience to witness firsthand the captivating stories it embodies.

Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos! Pulse Nigeria

The event which was held at Lala’s Place Victoria Island, Lagos, welcomed an array of headline celebrities, fashion icons, members of press, and key important personalities in attendance.

Idelle Taye, the visionary founder of the Guzangs brand, made a grand entrance in a stunning LadyMaker piece, showcasing one of Nigeria's finest designs. She shared her journey of how her passion for fashion led to the creation of the brand. She emphasised how this step became a beacon of inspiration for many aspiring fashion enthusiasts like her, who face challenges in accessing visibility for their talent.

Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos! Pulse Nigeria

From (L - R) - Deyemi Okanlawon, Enyinna Nwigwe, Imanse, and Maliz Mahop commanded the spotlight at the Guzangs launch in Lagos, symbolizing Africa's dynamic fashion scene Pulse Nigeria

Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos! Pulse Nigeria

The event commenced with a warm welcome message from Maliz Mahop, an advocate for the African creative industry, who introduced the Guzangs brand to the esteemed guests. She highlighted the brand's remarkable achievements within just three years of existence, showcasing renowned names such as Afrokrema, Muyishime, Margaux Wong, Ugo Monye, among others. Their designs were displayed on a global stage, earning well-deserved global recognition.

In alignment with Idelle’s vision of propelling African fashion designers onto the international stage, Sara Sozzani Maino , the Creative Director of Fondazione Sozzani and CNCC (Conde Nast Commercial Creative), renowned for her advocacy and empowerment initiatives for fashion creatives, especially as an Advisory Board member for the Circular Fashion Summit (a United Nations SDG project), urged African fashion creatives to cultivate resilience and emphasise the business aspects of fashion. According to her, “It’s not just a matter of doing clothes, it’s a matter of creating messages and changes, and I believe the vision should be to give visibility to those that don’t have visibility.”

Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos! Pulse Nigeria

Nigerian fashion mogul Ayodeji Adebayo, also present at the event, affirmed that the Guzangs brand is gradually reshaping the fashion landscape in Africa to attract global appeal. He expressed his belief that the Nigerian and African fashion industry has evolved and is poised for international exportation, but emphasised the need for internal development. Adebayo highlighted challenges such as high production costs, logistical hurdles, and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, which hinder the industry's growth. He stressed that resolving these issues would fuel even more significant growth in the already burgeoning sector.

Already experiencing said growth are the Nollywood, and AfroBeat sectors, well-represented at the Guzangs launch by Daniel Etim-Effiong, Deyemi Okanlawon, Imanse, Eso Dike, and Enyinna Nwigwe among others.

Adding to the discussion, A-list actor and producer Daniel Etim-Effiong echoed the sentiments about Nigeria's growing fashion industry. He emphasised the importance of inclusivity, particularly in terms of making mass production more accessible.

Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos! Pulse Nigeria

Etim-Effiong noted that fashion, as observed globally, is often seen as sophisticated, suggesting that African fashion designers should focus on simplifying and making it more relatable to the masses. He referenced the "Pure Water" model, where global companies adapt their strategies to suit the specific needs of the market they enter. He highlighted the importance of adopting such adaptable approaches among fashion designers in Nigeria.

Beyond being a first of its kind event in Lagos, the Guzangs Experience, a pioneering event in Lagos, fulfilled its theme by providing networking opportunities and facilitating forward-thinking discussions. It lived up to its promise of fostering introspection among fashion designers and ensuring that all stakeholders felt heard.

Guzangs premieres its first fashion event in Lagos! Pulse Nigeria

In her concluding statement, Idelle Taye expressed her optimism about the potential of African fashion designers on the global stage. She envisioned African fashion designers as stakeholders, actively participating in decision-making processes and having a significant presence in shaping global fashion trends.

Lagos marks the first stop on Guzangs' journey through many other African tours. To discover more about the brand, visit www.guzangs.com to begin your exploration.

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