By Rita Okoye
Fashion designers don’t get praised enough – absolutely not.
They are unsung heroes who make the world sane in their own little way. Think about it; the three basic needs of life as we were taught back in primary school are food, shelter and clothing.
Yet, of these trio, the cloth makers are mostly underrated. Like, what do you think would happen in a world where everyone is running around naked? Or at best, covering our bodies with banana leaves and palm thatches? Crazy, no? Maybe it’s time to show more gratitude for the gift of fashion designers, because beyond what we see, a lot of hard work goes into the various collections of garments that they release for us to throw on.
And they don’t just roll out tons of clothes to earn a living, they release well-crafted garments, tailored with intentionality to meet our fashion demands as a people. Maybe there are some who run fashion houses just to put food on their table, but many are passionately saving us from the harsh weather conditions, preserving our dignity, articulating our personalities and elevating our appearances with every stitch.
One of such brands is Lola Threads, founded by Ayobami Ololade Ogunbiyi as a movement, not just a women’s wear design label. Over and over again, Lola Threads has released breathtaking garments that held the masses in a chokehold. Yet again, it rolls out its 2025 collection – the Peach Perfect. Yes, past collections were great, but will this newly released batch ride on the waves of excellence, or will the brand drop the ball?
We are here to find out. Let’s dive right into the review.
This elegantly looking plain black dress is indeed a dialogue between tradition and the future. Its design that features layers of pleated fabrics draws one’s minds back to the African Egungun attire. That’s undoubtedly cultural. However, its fusion with the Western style and choice of fabric completes the dialogue. That’s absolute display of creativity. Stupendous.
The piece is an armless dress made with the famous crepe fabric with some elastane content. It is no news that crepe is a durable material and is comfortable on the skin. That is why many fashion designers – especially those who care about the safety of their customers – opt for it. It features a simple round neck and plain chest area.
The highlight of this uniquely crafted piece is in its lower part, where the black crepe fabric is cut with such dexterity. Each cut is stitched in gathers and placed in horizontal layers that form uneven steps. Uneven because the left side is made shorter while the right side is way longer, to the ankle of the wearer.
As simple as this dress appears, a lot of thought went into it from the concept to the choice of fabric and finally stitching the pieces together to arrive at this beautiful work of art. Choosing a fabric with elastane content is a perfect choice because it befits the concept and allows the gathers to drape awesomely and accurately.
The colour as well accentuates black power, signifying that ‘black is beautiful’… just as it is. There are no unnecessary adornments, no flashy attachments; just a simple black garment that speaks volumes.
And quite frankly, this is the reason Lola Threads has managed to garner a wide customer base. It is evident that the brand holds intentionality, respect and sustainability at its very core.
The back view equally continues on the all-black premise with the infusion of a black long zip that enables the wearer to easily get into the dress as much as possible. Looking more closely at this piece, the design gets more interesting with the vibe that the lower back view is giving. As if held by the ‘stay’ or the strings of an umbrella, the gathers form a ball pattern in spiral style. You cannot help but think about the traditional ’round stairs’ in your grandpa’s house. Amusing!
We need to commend Lola Threads’ team on this one. The concept is absolutely great. However, it’s as if the back view exemplifies the concept more vividly than the front view. The design is a little flat in the front, not giving the ball, umbrella or spiral stairs vibes as much as the back view does. Perhaps, it’s a sewing error, which means that the brand and its stitching crew need to pay more attention to details in ensuring that the concept of the design team is correctly replicated and uniform. Other than this, this attire is an awesome wear that will elevate every woman’s look and confidence.
Onto the next attire in this collection…
One look at this long, straight dress and what comes to mind is the iconic ‘snakes and ladder’ Yale biscuit-born game. GenZs, can you relate? Besides, spirals and pleats just have to be the brand’s favourite go-to tweak.
Don’t get it twisted; this is a lovely green dress with a lot of spiral pleats going on. It’s a long-sleeved and round neck design that would have been a plain straight body hug if the snakes weren’t introduced.
The pleats, introduced in a zig-zag spiral form, are not even contained to the body of the dress alone, but also extended to the hands and back of the dress. It’s basically covered in pleats. And quite frankly, that’s a little excessive.
Ladies wear body con dresses every time. And this dress would pass for one, especially with the cotton-elastane choice of fabric. However, the invention of pleats that was meant to offer a touch of creativity to the design appears to be more of ‘innovation gone wrong’.
Maybe, just maybe if the pleats were added only to the sleeves and the body of the dress left plain, the design might have come out better. Irrespective, this is good work done by the design team but can be improved on. Perhaps, the team could visualise the designs in various contexts to be sure that the outcome looks as appealing as the concept.
The back view of the dress features a long green zip that matches the dress perfectly. It was sewn in such a way that the pleated design that runs across the back of the wearer flows naturally without looking unbroken.
That’s an excellent display of professionalism by the Lola Threads team. Please, have your flowers. At the lower back of the floor-length dress, there’s a sleet that enables the wearer to walk more conveniently in the dress. That’s also thoughtful.
While it might not be the most attractive dress ever, it is functional, durable and highly comfortable to wear. With minimal makeup, a pair of heeled sandals and a petite pause, you’re good to go in this gorgeous attire. Be it a church outing or a casual date night, this serves you just right.
On the last attire to be reviewed in this collection, we have the short, butterfly-like, mint green dress. Made with the ever-durable satin fabric, this dress shines through, almost stealing the spotlight from the rest of the attire in this 2025 collection. Do you know the song ‘I Believe I Can Fly’? No? huh… well, this design probably won’t resonate with you then. But that’s the concept behind this dress.
With its butterfly sleeves and angelic colour, it gives an angel feel, like the wearer got wings. This is beyond a concept or adding a sense of style to the attire; it holds a deep meaning that evokes the elegance, power and calm, subtle nature of the female gender. It’s simply classy and majestic in its simplicity. The free sleeves joined to the simple torso of the dress fall downwards like a funnel, elongating beyond the wrists of the wearer.
Also, the fitted style of the dress perfectly accentuates the curves and shape of the wearer in an attractive way. The lower part of the dress features a thoughtful inclusion of creative gathers that create an illusion of a broader waist in the wearer. Although, it seems slightly lower, starting from the hip area instead of the waist.
This mistake is not quite obvious from the front view, but if you look at it from the back view, you could spot the imbalance in an instant. If the gather started from the upper bum side, then it’d be perfect. Still, it is an enticing attire that will have any woman spinning heads when they step into the room.
A zip to add a finishing touch and closure to the design is just perfect and may seem routine, but it is actually necessary and functional. Without it, except the designer offers another way out, it becomes difficult for the user to wear or pull off the garment.
With all that’s been said, Lola Threads is on the path to greatness with its consistent release of fabulously curated pieces that not only tell tales of resilience but also of self-expression and a means to uplift lives.