Post imperial collection: Remnants

To understand how African fashion developed, one may need to look into the cultural boundaries that define fashion identities. This is why Post Imperial, through the ‘Remnants’ 2024 collection, made it a point to walk us through that path. The cultural feel that is attached to this collection makes it relatable for locals in some parts of Nigeria and other African tribes.

The name Remnant connects with the ideas ingrained in the way people choose their attire. Those who understand inward happiness through fashion now see that indigenous people of Africa have a unique approach to what their appearance speaks to. Simple covering. And that is what Post Imperial has successfully communicated here.

The brand has given energy and flair to a fashion inspired by local fabric. The beauty and love of Adire could only get stronger when it is woven through colour, texture, and a story only Post Imperial knows best.

This earth-coloured tie-dye shirt and trousers have the energy of a deep, rich cultural feeling you see among the Yoruba ethnic group in Western Nigeria. The short sleeve stays boxy in shape, pairing its creamy, orange tie-dye tunic with deep, dark purple trousers covered in an orange crescent motif. This gives it a matching combination when you step into the street.

There is a visual difference that rests on the local textures of the tie-dye material and the way the circle geometric pattern repeats itself on the pants.

 The top shirt has a structure that looks oversized, especially in how it combines with the trousers to form a big-sized silhouette. The top has a good vibe of relaxation around it, which is fantastic; yet it still lacks some sort of structural definition against such wide trousers, running the risk of overwhelming the frame.

This outfit features a cobalt blue shirt and circle-designed Adire trousers. Unique to the western craft, this fabric has successfully made it to the forefront of modern attire among fashion lovers. This bright blue shirt with buttons from top to bottom pairs with olive-green trousers featuring a crescent geometric motif.

This combination is an expression of colour theory. The modernity of the shirt and the locally handmade tie-trousers form a counterpoint of fashion strength. The idea of tucking the shirt reflects the style and makes the appearance truly intentional. The style used seems too heavy at the top, particularly because the blue shirt comes out too saturated. The trousers themselves feel less imposing with their darker, muted tones. To enjoy the look of this outfit, flying out the blue shirt and folding up the cuffs two steps up would better match the casual energy of the pants.

This attire has the customary flair of the rich Fulani fashion style. The shirt is a masterpiece that combines modern silk material with an Adire that features a geometric white circle. Gracefully worn on top of carton-coloured trousers, you have a balanced combination of modern and traditional fashion appearance.

A dual material matching piece combined with cool yellow full-length trousers and a matching tie-dye bucket hat.

The combination works perfectly. By revealing a part of the motif sleeve with its pattern and its collar under the solid blue, the outfit introduces complexity without becoming chaotic. The earthy trousers embraced the look well, serving as a midground hold to the double-blue top.

The bucket hat, a mimic of the Fulani sunhat, while fun, comes with a third unique fabric texture to the top half of the body. Omitting the hat or matching it to the solid blue shirt would streamline the look and let the sleeve combination take sit more boldly.

This is a classic representation of a close-up pattern shirt. This attire offers insight into the stylish tailoring that can be applied to an Adire fabric. A breast pocket sits squarely between the patchwork of parallel stitches that decorates the garment design.

Looking at this unique collection, you would see a detailed macro view of deep, dark blue clothing with a button-down shirt that comes with a common geometric Adire standard white circle segment.

This image shows the deep, raw beauty of the Adire procedure. The traditional feel of imperfections that surround the white dye on the deep blue cotton fabric flaunts real craftsmanship.

This collection showcases how a striped shirt can combine easily with irregularly patterned trousers. There is a partnership of classical shirt design and a locally inspired design that creates a visual feed that reimagines beauty.

The look here shows a long-sleeved button-down shirt with vertical olive-green, blue, and white stripes matched with heavily patterned purple trousers. With the shirt tucked in, the trousers come with a stylish rope band, away from the traditional belt-hook style. With a side pocket around the knee, the cargo trousers look balanced on the body.

The mixture of vertical stripes together with the heavy organic patterns is a bold styling choice. This boldness is rewarded here because the parallel lines of the shirt stretch the body, forming a balance in the busy, swirling circular print on the bottom. The colour choice feels classy, fresh, and highly vibrant.

Since the shirt and trousers, with their stripes and the pattern, are clearly detailed, the outfit is missing a visual balance. A solid-coloured inner shirt or a solid belt could help break up the movement between the two loud styles.

This stylish olive-green patterned co-Ord set and tie-dye design screams of beauty and elegance. Worn with the freedom of casualness, the undershirt offers the strong confidence you need when in an outdoor activity. The suitability of the cotton in a tropical climate makes it a first choice for a cultural outing.

It is a stack beauty with matching short-sleeve, nicely decorated with buttons from top to bottom, and trouser co-Ord set in a deep dark purple with gold crescent patterns, placed over a green-and-white tie-dye T-shirt and topped with an orange tie-dye bucket hat. Also, without a belt hook, the trousers use the traditional right of suitability that makes them faster and easier to wear.

Co-Ord sets are naturally a match, and the dark purple fabric offers a strong, unified canvas. A quick look at the green tie-dye shirt combines a fine burble of vibrancy right in the centre of the frame.

While the co-Ord holds a fantastic feel of fun and elegance, it comes off with a look that suffers from style over decoration. The idea of mixing together an already matching two-piece set with a white T-shirt with a touch of lemon tie-dye is betrayed when you add an orange tie-dye bucket hat to it. It successfully creates too many competing focal points. So, swapping the hat for a solid indigo or neutral tone would balance the collection.

This green wavy shirt and deep blue wavy trousers come off quite stylish. An orange T-shirt for inner wear appears vibrant, drawing real attention to the outfit itself. It features light blue contour lines and is worn over a T-shirt with an orange polka-dot. Paired with deep blue trousers, it appears quite matching with the trousers’ wavy line pattern, too.

There is beauty in the way the wavy line continues between the green top and the deep blue bottoms. It creates a soothing rhythmic flow throughout the outfit. The cargo style of trousers gives it strength, making the round full-length legs feel urban.

However, there is a bit of chaos in the colour combination. Green with light blue, wavy, contour linework. Orange with white polka-dots. Deep blue with light blue, wavy, contour linework. Undeniably, the orange polka-dot under-layer offers an irrelevant clash of shapes and a colour interruption. A solid white T-shirt would provide the same vibrant colour contrast without fighting against the beautiful, fluid geometry of the rest of the suit.

While older generations of African designers used standard wax prints, Post Imperial draws inspiration from altering fabric bases to produce a unique fashion taste. The brand always plays with the beauty of local crafts such as Adire and its geometric styling and breaks them down. You see this in men’s top-down button shirts and long trousers.

Comparatively, the textile focus that defines the uniqueness of Post Imperial from Lagos Space Programme is its Adire dyeing process. Post Imperial approaches this through relaxed tailoring and classic Western silhouettes. That is unlike Lagos Space Programme, which is a genderless luxury label that deeply researches Yoruba traditions.

Overall, Post Imperial has emerged as an incubator favourite that stands as a pioneering contemporary label that redefines heritage fashion by treating traditional Yoruba textiles as a living canvas for the future rather than a relic of the past. The designer has put in so much work and has spent over a decade doing the good work of replacing traditional Western design patterns with hand dyed Adire fabrics.

By effortlessly engaging this local craftsmanship with relaxed, cross-continental manufacturing, Post Imperial has consistently delivered a community-driven vision of modern luxury to the global stage.

By Seun Emmanuel