2021 COLLECTION: Styles Lives On

What does the future look like for the fashion industry?

From Crocs on runways to sneakers at Paris Fashion Week, the fashion world appears to be experiencing an identity crisis in modern times. But then, not all fashion brand suffers from these lapses.

This is where Qadir & Co. enters the scene. Founded in 2019 by Abdul-Qadir A. Abdul-Razaq, Qadir & Co. is a top fashion brand that focuses primarily on making not just fashionable outfits but also pieces that are critically and innovatively designed. The brand believes that fashion isn’t just meant to be worn alone; there should also be some level of careful examination of whatever outfit you put on, to ascertain if it’s good to go or not. It isn’t exactly your regular fashion brand, not at all.

They stand as a platform that carries out thorough fashion investigations. Now, the fascinating thing about Qadir & Co. is that they explore fashion through themes of architecture, temporality, identity, and place, drawing from both contemporary art and ancestral memory to create outfits that speak to the general public.

Without further ado, we’ll be taking a careful look at some of Qadir & Co.’s ready-made outfits.

Walk with us…

Behold, this is a Satin flowing gown; the first of some of the visually appealing outfits from Qadir & Co.’s 2021 collection.

A long-sleeved satin gown can be versatile and suitable for a wide range of occasions. These said occasions could be formal events, evening parties, etc. Let’s say you get invited to a wedding as a guest or you’ve been pre-designated to serve as a bridesmaid; this said outfit can serve such purposes.

From the back view, we can tell that this outfit is quite refined and elegant. From the back view, the waist is well-shaped, and the back outline of the gown shows the nice flow of the dress. The gown’s floor-length gives it an aristocratic aura, similar to one you can find in the ‘Bridgerton TV series’, set in the Regency era.

Let’s be honest, it’s pretty apparent that the wearer of this outfit isn’t seeking attention; on the contrary, she’s commanding it.

Now, on the downside, the back pose doesn’t seem too fitting. As aforementioned, the outfit itself speaks regency, but the back-view pose makes it seem like the wearer is struggling with the arm’s length. The front view is no match, either. The neckline appears unbalanced, with a noticeable gap that suggests the designer may have made an error in their design, or the dress might not have been tailored to the model’s size; we cannot determine this now. In hindsight, this can make it less appealing.

The drawstrings seem to curve towards the left side when ruched up, and this also shows that there was a mistake when the strings were being sewn in. This makes the dress look like an unfinished work or, better still, something made by a first-time designer, an inexperienced designer, so to say.

From the side view, the ruched strings appear unbalanced on the model’s body, protruding too far outward. All in all, it passes for a lovely dress that can be worn in two different ways, which shows creativity on the part of the designer. The colour of the fabric is another interesting factor, which makes this work quite pleasant on another level.

Again, this is a beautiful, flowing gown with ruched-up drawstrings by the side. It has long, loose sleeves that match the style of the dress. It is quite a lovely dress that would easily suit all body types, including those with a fat, slim, or moderate build.

Similar to the above, this dress is a whole vibe.

It is a lovely, long & flowing 180-degree flare gown that will fit all body types, regardless of size. The blue, mixed with white floral print, is exquisite. It almost feels like someone took a garden and transformed it into fabric. Like, take a good look at such a masterpiece.

But then, what makes it stand out is the cut-out shoulders and the sleeves that have ties with a string. Also, the turtleneck neckline with the large keyhole yoke gives it a creative look. Nevertheless, it can be considered quite revealing for several clients with concerns about the bodice.

The sleeves of this dress are long and connected with ropes made from the same fabric that show off a large part of both arms. This could look unattractive and uncomfortable for many good reasons. The strings give an alluring effect. The invisible zip blends with the collar neck. Many fashion enthusiasts believe that invisible zips are more aesthetically pleasing than traditional zips.
Of course, the most apparent advantage of an invisible zip is that it’s hidden. Generally, the invisible zip is more seamless-looking than the standard zip because, ordinarily, you don’t get to see the outfit’s stitches. Invisible zips are commonly used for dressier garments that have a high-end look or costumes that can be used for other lightweight projects, too.

Unlike traditional or visible zips, Invisible zips are also made with stronger materials. These materials are designed to be more durable and pleasing to the eye.

As we can see, the designer is quite creative and wanted to create a modern look for women. The choice of fabric is right for the dress, and the quality and design make the flare of the entire outfit even more captivating.

Now, let’s talk about the black heels. The heels look nice and cool, but we wish there were more to that. Perhaps something lighter or something with a brighter colour, to match the energy of the dress. The dress is visibly colourful. But regardless, the designer keeps it grounded, which is still not a bad thing.

The outfit gives off this ‘I’m feeling bold’ vibe and aura. It’s the kind of outfit you put on to have heads turn and eyes roll. It’s the kind of outfit you wear to own the room, to secure that acknowledgement.

This is a 2-piece long ‘bubu’ top with drawstrings and a matching trouser piece. Now. ‘Bubu’ is a style of clothing worn by women in Africa, especially across West Africa. It is a long, straight gown with extensive sleeves that can be short or long.
The Bubu can be worn for special occasions. Occasions like weddings, religious gatherings, ceremonies, family get-togethers, etc. The Bubu is a garment that carries weight symbolically. Other than what the Bubu stands for, we can tell that this particular outfit feels more versatile. It is something you could wear to a formal event and also to a stylish dinner, a fashion show, or even a standard photoshoot. It connotes adaptability, expression, and deep personality.

Now, the first thing that mostly grabs our attention at first glance is the wide sleeves. The wide sleeves are a perfect acknowledgement of tradition. We reckon it’s a smart design choice that gives the outfit a unique appearance. Thumbs up to the designer for that.

It sheds light on the many representations of classic Bubu styles, which are designed to shine effortlessly over the body. But in this outfit, there’s a modern feel attached to the style.

The style is less stiff and more fluid. It has an incredible female vibe. Ah, yes! Let us not forget the front slit with the light lining showing through. We can feel the designer’s strong touch in this regard.

The black heels also blend well with the outfit.

Over the years, there have been different variations of the bubu gown, primarily due to diverse cultures and ethnic groups. The designer decided to be creative and thoughtful enough to bring a different and unusual style to this gown by making it a standout set with ruches.

A 2-piece set is a style of dressing with two matching outfits. The beauty of this design lies in its versatility, allowing it to be worn with a wide range of different attire that matches it perfectly.

Regardless of the inspiration or creativity in this design, the position of the drawstrings; starting from the middle of the neckline to the bottom of the gown, seems to be a problem because it stretches the neckline in a very unattractive way, which in turn causes the back of the dress to look like the legs are being held together and uncomfortable.

However, the idea is beautiful and modest.

Abisola Omolade