Fashion Review: Bold Prints and bigger statements in the Afro Tropical 2021 collection

Fashion is all about making a statement. It’s like wearing a billboard on your body that reads, “Yes I am here and I know I look good” And to be honest, no one does it better than Nigerian designers.

This goes beyond your typical ready-to-wear, fast-fashion fits that end up on every Instagram influencer’s page after one season. It is about incredible skill and craftsmanship, the kind that blends ancient tradition with modern trends in ways only a fashionable Nigerian can pull off effortlessly.

Think LV, but with a sprinkle of Lagos street-style and a splash of royalty and wealth. It’s giving luxury and culture all at once.

In Nigeria, fashion is a whole mood, and let’s not get it twisted; it’s serious business. Nigerian fashion is fast-rising, and becoming a major player on the scene. It is no doubt that the fashion industry contributes a huge revenue to the Nigerian economy.

This growth isn’t just about numbers though. It’s about a cultural rebirth led by designers who have had enough of Western fashion ideas and have now taken it up on themselves to make space for African excellence on the global stage. And honey, they are delivering.

Let’s be real, this isn’t just some brief success story. Nigerian designers have been steadily topping the charts for years. Remember when Lagos Fashion Week first hit the global stage in 2021? It was like the world collectively gasped, “Where has this been all along”? Like they had been waiting for something new, something fresh and authentic to come to them.

The energy, the creativity, the boldness, it was a completely different vibe. And now, thanks to the internet and social media, Nigerian designers are no longer unnoticed or unobserved. They are at the front and centre on global runways.

Now let’s pause for a second and talk about this one iconic fashion moment that will forever live rent-free in the minds of many. The moment Beyonce, the Queen Bey herself, graced us with a custom design by the renowned Nigerian fashion designer, Deola Sagoe, in her “Spirit” music video for her album The Lion King: The Gift. When Beyonce picks your design, that’s not just a win – it’s a mic drop!

It’s one thing to get the First Lady of Music to wear your clothes, but it’s another thing entirely when the entire world watches in awe as she twirls and dances in a piece that showcases the Nigerian heritage and the future of Nigerian fashion.

The dress was majestic, elegant and a form of recognition of the African tradition which is specifically the Yoruba craftsmanship that Deola Sagoe is known for. It was like Beyonce in that dress was telling the world: “This is Africa. Get used to it.” And the world? Oh, they sure got the memo.

Plus, it gets more interesting. Did you know that Naomi Campbell is practically obsessed with Nigerian designers? She has become a regular at the Lagos Fashion Week, and when she walks that runway, heads don’t just turn – they spin. Naomi has been a candid supporter of African fashion for a long time. She believes that Africa is pushing boundaries right now, and the fashion industry is a huge part of that. Well, she’s not far from the truth.

The movement is happening right before our eyes, and the world can finally see what Africa is truly made of.

Fashion evolves, it rebels, it reflects, and no one understands this better than Nigerian designers. The way they can creatively transform cultural pieces like Ankara, Adire and Aso-Oke, blending them seamlessly with contemporary fashion that resonates on the global scene, needs to be studied.

And this is a reminder that culture can, and should evolve with fashion. Designers like Ezinwanne Uzoaku Anah are one of those who uphold this belief.

Hailing from the eastern part of Nigeria, Ezinwanne launched her self-titled brand, “Zinny”, in 2017, which showcases a contemporary fashion line for women that beautifully merges simple designs with striking elements and a rich African lifestyle.

Ezinwanne’s notable design skills and craftsmanship allow her creations to stand out and echo a unique perspective on modern femininity. Her designs incorporate materials like silk and lace to give a modern ambience, all while paying homage to her roots and keeping her cultural values intact. It’s like saying, “We respect where we’ve come from but watch where we’re going.”

Her journey in the fashion world took an enormous spike in the year 2018 when she presented her first Spring/summer collection at the Lagos Fashion Design Week. With this major event, her place was declared as a designer of note within the

African fashion scene. This got her further recognized and she was eventually nominated for Designer of the Year at the 2020 African Fashion Design Awards
Her recently released collection is everything from simple and minimalistic to luxury and flamboyant. These designs speak to the fashionistas in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. The Afro Tropical 2021 Collection features a few designs, and let’s check out a few.

When you look at this dress, what do you see? This is the epitome of elegance. Now imagine what it looks like in motion. A flowy and delicate piece that floats as you move. It is simply Amazing.

The beautiful blend of the traditional Ankara fabric and the silk crepe satin brings the creative vision to life. The beautiful colours of wine, purple and subtle yellow featured on the Ankara material, harmonize perfectly with the deep wine crepe-coloured fabric which represents strength and passion.

The combination of bright daring prints and sharp tailoring is a shout-out to the Nigerian spirit. The two-step ruffles? It’s giving damsel-in-distress.

The design looks quite simple and not-so-simple at the same time, and this can only be achieved by the design expertise and skill of a typical Nigerian designer like Ezinwanne who has mastered the craft of delivering uniqueness.

The dress is without sleeves, and this balances proportionally with the flare ruffles placed a little above the knee and just below the knee.

Let’s talk about styling for a minute. If you were to style this dress, how would you go about it? Having this dress on will make anyone feel like a princess, and you know exactly what princesses wear on their feet? Heels!

Style this with a beautiful black heel if you want to be neutral, or a wine-coloured heel to highlight the colours on the dress and make it pop even more. The neckline is quite high and covered up, so an ideal jewellery type would be one that adds balance and doesn’t clutter the chest area.

Regardless of how exceptional this dress looks, the flare can feel too excessive, making whoever has it on appear drowned in fabric. A more balanced approach to the volume of the dress would create a more elegant and refined look.

Pair this dress with long pendant necklaces or a lariat necklace the drapes down the front in a delicate and elegant manner.

This piece would effortlessly take you from Sunday church service to brunch with the girls or a rooftop soiree without missing a beat.

Next time you’re thinking of a dress to grace that wonderful occasion, think of this chic damsel in distress dress and own the floor. Now let me introduce you to our next star of the show.

This two-piece ensemble embodies all shades of bold, fun and unapologetic energy, which is exactly what is expected from a very colourful and vibrant print like this. Fully made with Ankara material and no additional pieces, the illuminating hues of yellows, pinks and blues emerging from this piece like a floral festival, ensures anyone that who looks your way, takes a second glance, (and trusts that they will).

This isn’t just your average prints and pieces, it’s literal art in motion. Let’s take a moment to talk about those wide-legged trousers. Should we even call them ‘wide’?

They are “statement-making’. With the high waist and palazzo-like features, the trousers make the legs look stretched out, giving an illusion of added height.

And that top? Oh, that’s a perfect cropped top right there, providing a balance to the boldness of the print and colours with its slim sleeves – not doing too much since the trousers already gave enough.

A combo that says, “I can slay and sashay all day”. Perfect for an outdoor event or if you want to feel like the main character while running errands, this look is the vibe. With a cute pair of yellow or blue sandals, you’re ready to take the spotlight. If you plan to take over the world, then you should look fabulous doing it.

Though the outfit is really stunning, it can be better. The cut seems to be too boxy for many body types, which might not be very flattering. A more tailored or structured fit would provide a better definition and accentuate the wearer’s figure.

What makes this whole thing inspiring is the fact that these designs are not just to make you look the best, but it also symbolises the direction where fashion is going. It all tells a story.

And best believe that the world is listening. Every stitch and every print, labels fashion as not just an industry but as a movement. And at the front of all of these happenings, are the Nigerian designers leading the motion and waving their flags high.