Fashion is a powerful form of self-expression. It is the art of using fabrics to clothe and style people in a comfortable and visually appealing way. Every stage in the clothing production process is as important, from design development to pattern making, fabric selection to cutting, stitching to assembling and most importantly, finishing. Clothes are demanded based on many factors, such as brand identity, quality of material and design. Therefore, fashion brands must have clear and consistent brand trademarks. They should also aim to produce unique designs that stand out from the norm.

Fashion enthusiasts patronise exceptional brands that have a track record of success. One such brand today is Lukabi. Lukabi is a fashion brand that creates pieces designed for women of all body types. It was founded in 2019 by Lukman Ayorinde, a Nigerian fashion designer who is dedicated to making clothes for women who love style and class.

He spent months at JemiRiana African Fashion, learning more about the industry, and later completed training in 2017. He is interested in redefining fashion by exploring the many styles of design while making garments that women feel confident and expressive in. He aims to reach women beyond Africa who love to express themselves with elegance and chic designs.

The first piece in his 2020 collection is a gown made from plain purple fabric and styled with a patterned material. It is a classic contemporary design. The long-sleeved design is both innovative and classic. It has an additional pattern material at the wrist, giving an aura of sophistication while maintaining a modern feel. These sleeves create a sync with the lower bodice.

The neckline is a crew design. It creates a sense of openness, elongating the neck. The cut hugs the neck without being too tight, giving a balance of comfort and style. It creates room for statement accessories. The neckline also draws attention to the face, balancing the gown’s overall look.

However, it could benefit from slight modifications. To improve this, the design could take a different approach to the neckline, by making it a V-neckline. This way, it would help to soften the lines and give a less rigid feel, making it more versatile for different face shapes and accessories.

This design is a piece that will be the cynosure of both indoor and outdoor events. It will make the wearer radiate confidence and elegance. The purple fabric looks to be of quality material that mirrors sophistication and luxury. The additional pattern material, which is also called appliqué, is the engaging factor of this dress. It is delicately placed on the wrists as an embellishment. It is also added vertically along the right side up to the waist in the same manner. This elongates the figure and creates a dynamic effect. It transforms the plain purple fabric into a sophisticated piece and adds visual interest. However, the vertical design on the side of the gown can be a bit limiting. The wearer might feel uncomfortable resting her hand by her side with ease. Also, the mid-thigh length of the gown flaunts the wearer’s legs but the designer could consider making a longer version of the design to cater to a larger audience.

This gown creates enough room for styling. It can be paired with minimalistic accessories like metallic clutch bags or heels. Statement jewellery would also blend perfectly with this design.
The purple colour gives the wearer a look of confidence. It makes this outfit an ideal choice for a range of occasions. The appliqué of patterned material adds depth and texture, blending with the gown’s overall elegance. The patterned material is a balanced mix of purple, black, yellow, green and white. The colour palette is bold and expressive. The combination of the vibrant purple and the patterned material highlights the wearer’s figure evenly. While the appliqué adds a textural element, it is a bit overwhelming. A more subtle approach—probably opting for a more nuanced pattern—could help ensure the figure-flattering design shines even better.

The choice and quality of fabrics used are excellent. The appliqué shows exceptional creative thinking. The tailoring is neat and has professional finishings that reflect the brand’s passion for expertise. However, the cutting of the gown is too simple. It is a straight cut that lacks any intricate shaping, which could have added more dimension to the design. While this approach gives the gown a minimalist aesthetic, it may feel too plain for certain occasions.
For the second dress, the sleeves are a result of the neckline design that flows effortlessly with the gown, offering a uniform structure in style. The slight puffiness of the sleeves makes room for easy movement.

The neckline is an off-shoulder design. This creates room for bold accessories. It gives the design a modern feel, and it emphasises the shoulders and collarbone, creating a confident look. However, it would not appeal to modest or shy wearers.

The piece has a floral motif on the material. The flower design is the captivating theme of this dress; the off-shoulder neckline highlights the wearer’s shoulders and skin type, thus creating an alluring look for the wearer. The above-the-knee cut flaunts the wearer’s legs and skin tone, drawing the perfect amount of attention.

The gown creates a charm with its vibrant colours and intricate floral pattern. It incorporates comfort for the wearer by drawing inspiration from traditional designs and modern fashion. The three-step layers in this piece enhance easy movement for the wearer, but it is not a style that everyone is drawn to. It showcases the wearer’s upper waistline and body type. However, the under-bust area and upper waistline look slack. An elastic should have been used to create a smarter look and better define the wearer’s waist. The floral patterns make this piece appealing to all skin tones.

This design leaves enough room for styling. The off-shoulder cut can be styled with bold jewellery. The sleeves give allowance for statement bracelets or an eye-catching wristwatch. Heels will elevate the gown for semi-formal events, and platform slippers could be another possible match. The gown is ideal for warmer months or outdoor occasions.

The gown’s light green hue is a refreshing colour scheme that blends with the variety of colours from the floral pattern. The use of blue, yellow, pink and green for the pattern makes the outfit very engaging. However, a blend of calmer and brighter shades of the colour scheme could have been used to make a bold statement.

The fabric feels light and comfortable and is a perfect fit for warm seasons. The design is crafted to make the wearer feel comfortable and yet still look elegant. However, this piece doesn’t challenge conventional fashion norms. The design needs more creative design techniques and modern style concepts.

This dress would excel in boutiques and online retail markets. Currently, most women look for ready-to-wear clothing. For Lukabi; their design can be marketed easily online and off the rack in boutiques. The use of both traditional designs and contemporary trends gives Lukabi an edge over other brands in the era of fashion today. Drawing inspiration from various cultures, Lukabi’s designs explore both old and new styles while embodying femininity.

Nevertheless, the pieces employed more conventional designs than modern styles. Lukabi should ensure a balance and always prioritise customers’ wants