By Rita Okoye
For decades, fashion designers have always tried to stay afloat by crafting clothing pieces that are unique as well as attractive.
Sometimes fashion lovers don’t even know they would love a particular kind of garment until the dressmakers work their creative magic and have it standing in the showroom, wowing potential customers.
It suffices to note that the development and evolution of the fashion industry have been caused by designers’ willingness to try new things. The 21st-century clothmakers, particularly the ones interested in catching the younger generation, have come to understand this pattern, and with each new day, it seems there is a new trend sprouting up.
The older generation may want something corporate, but the younger generation wants their dresses imbued with some casual swag. They want dresses in which they can feel their age and have a good time.
It is the job of the designer to stay nimble in catering to these demands.
Some Nigerian fashion designers look closely enough to see the pain points of most fashion lovers. When these needs are unravelled, they get down to work, bringing up solutions to put a smile on the faces of these potential customers.
Wear Kpako is one of the designers in Nigeria who has taken the time to see what people are wearing and what they would rather wear. So, it’s commendable how they took their time to craft casuals and athletic dresses that help people feel good and achieve maximum fun.
Wear Kpako is a fashion brand that hails from Lagos, Nigeria, and is committed to creating athletic and leisure enthusiasts. Tobiloba Adeniyi Oderinde founded this iconic brand in 2018 alongside his friend and creative partner Tamilore Bashir Nwaobiara.
Wear Kpako specialises in designing outfits that are comfortable and well-styled.
It includes a collection of clothing items such as tracksuits, t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, pants, and shorts. These pieces seamlessly transition from athletic activities to casual wear, which makes them suitable for the workplace, school, and social engagements.
Their designs allow individuals to express their unique style while enjoying optimal comfort.
This brand is dedicated to stuffing your wardrobe with the right outfit because they seem to understand what should be contained in a great closet – dresses for fun and dates since life must be enjoyed. Wearing the Kpako fashion brand gives you incentives to have an enjoyable time. There are several factors shaping this brand, recognising millennials and Gen Z as a driving force behind fashion trends and embracing healthy lifestyles.
The 2023 Casual Collection is proof of this brand’s fashion prowess. The pieces of this collection are crafted with the younger generation in mind and perhaps also for older people who still feel the need to look young.
This lovely piece from the 2023 Casual Collection is a typical example of class, youthfulness and swag. It is a zipped-up, hoodless two-piece outfit: a jacket and trousers. The jacket has a collar made with the same material and the brand’s logo in an accent black colour on the left side of the jacket.
The zip is made of quality steel, and the jacket has logos inscribed on both sides. It also has a flowing silhouette, and it looks perfect for a young person ready to slay. The elements of the dress have a harmonious proportion, and there is a balance between different parts.
The visual composition looks ordinary, but it will appeal to most young people. However, if we are being honest, there is nothing unique about it; it’s almost like a uniform without a proper investment of creativity. You may feel awkward if you walk into an exclusive function and notice a couple of other people wearing the same outfit as yours. This may water down your morale because you could feel lost in the crowd.
The fabric choice seems to be the right choice for the design style and intended use of the dress. It is made of a durable material. The seams are straight, even, and properly finished without pulling or any loose threads. The stitches are consistent and appropriate for the fabric, and the zippers look like they are functional and discreetly placed.
While the fabric choice is a good move, we can’t say the same for fitness. It appears very loose. Though it hangs appropriately on the shoulders and moves gracefully along the arm without any iota of awkwardness, a slender person may find it a bit oversized. The designer may want to consider other body sizes and how this design would cater to their demands.
Regardless, it is a versatile piece. The fashion piece in this 2023 Casual Collection can be worn to parties. It gives you a groovy feeling, and its material makes it possible to move and dance with friends. It is appropriate for casual outings or dates, such as a picnic with a loved one. It gives you a warm feeling of love and comfort and makes you enjoy the moment and the conversations.
This dress will provide you with a bouncy feeling amongst friends in such a way that it rubs off on others around you the right way, and everyone enjoys your company.
At exclusive entertainment functions, it may not bring heads to swivel your way because there’s nothing physically special about it. But the uniqueness of this dress is the feeling it will give you at an event, and that feeling is everything. It makes you feel like someone special.
The dresses in this collection are not revealing, and this makes them suitable for religious gatherings.
The details are intact; the pockets are neatly sewn and well arranged. Though an embellishment would have done the outfit better, it would have been a good way to complement the dress. The neckline is flattering, but an attached hood would have added more beauty to it.
Wear Kpako has effectively communicated its vision through the 2023 Casual Collection. Though there are areas that need a better touch, the dresses will undoubtedly make their wearer happy. The parts of the garment with the most successful crafting are the sleeves and the stitching on the wrists. But the neck area needs improvement. However, for retail value, the outfit has sales potential. The dress will make youths feel confident and high-spirited.
Here is a purple version of the same design. Seeing such a design in the colour purple makes it look plain and lacklustre without embellishments. For a better understanding, the colour is not the problem. Purple is a good colour; it depicts luxury, royalty, power and authority. It’s just that the plainness of the design appears more vivid in such a colour choice.
It is clear that the Wear Kpako fashion brand intends to cater to the youth, the more vibrant audience. Whilst this is a good thing, the plainness of the design in the 2023 collection is not a good trait. Oluwatobiloba is a fantastic designer with blessed hands, but for a brand going for a streetwear vibe, they missed the mark with these creations. Streetwear is synonymous with energy, dynamism, and agility.
However, all we see here is a designer who played it safe.
We hope their next creation does a better job of wowing the market and leaves us gaping for more. All the best to the designer and their team.