SAFE FASHION CAN BE STYLISH TOO

When we talk about sustainability, Ginika Eva Odikagbo champions this narrative. With her creations and unique styles from her brand Gineva, she designs creative outfits that are not just fashionable but also uphold the global sustainability standards. She doesn’t believe in fast fashion, and for this reason, Gineva was founded in 2018 to fill that vacuum that lies in the fashion industry.

She’s made her eco-friendly stance official with a new drop. Here are a few looks from the 2022 collection.

The colour catches the eye in an instant. What do they say about green? Green symbolises life, nature, and earth. And you wonder why the shade feels so subtle and calm here? This dress makes you think of fresh leaves after the rain; how soft, calm, and clean. The colour itself is so gentle, and the touch of black sitting on it really makes it pop. The top part fits nicely; it hugs the waist and naturally shows off the shape. Then there’s that black fabric on the shoulders, which is a bold move. You can tell the designer wanted that part to stand out on its own.

The shoulder detail adds some power for sure, but maybe a bit too much. Still, you can tell that without those black details it would’ve been just another green dress. That contrast is what keeps things interesting.

Then, around the waist, there’s another black layer that pulls everything together. It breaks up the green nicely and gives the outfit more shape. It goes around the dress and sort of cuts the body in two. This mix of fabric now gives the dress a somewhat patterned look: black, green, black, green. The green right under the middle black layer is nice, but it barely gets to shine because the black fabric just sits puffed up, covering almost half of the skirt.

Maybe if the black part were smaller or softer, it would let the green come through more and make the dress feel lighter. Additionally, the length is good, though. It’s not too long that it drags the floor, and the fabric itself looks rich and smooth, which helps it look well-made.

Although the dress looks creative, a few suggestions for improvements can be considered. If the top and middle parts could give room for breathability, we believe this dress would easily stand out in a much better way. Also, regarding the shoulder detail, it doesn’t entirely need to go; it just needs to be tamed a little. Rather than resembling wings arcing to fly, gathered drape sleeves would work better, or even a puffed sleeve. Doing this will help it not to feel like it’s swallowing the neckline. The black layer on the waist could also be shaped to fall more freely, so the green fabric underneath can move easily. That small change would make the dress look softer without losing its boldness.

It would also help if there were something that connects the top and bottom better, maybe a tiny touch of black, like that found on the sleeves, could be introduced on the lower part or a bit of green coming up to the shoulder. That kind of balance makes the whole thing flow better to the eyes. The dress already has good structure and colour pairing; it just needs to agree with itself a little more.

Comfy, that’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see this outfit. The white and purple are so fresh together. And the polka dots? Yes, they bring the fun. Just with a glance, you might think it’s a simple two-piece. But there’s more. This outfit carries quite the details, including round purple buttons and open sleeves… It’s like the outfit is quietly trying to show off.

From the top, you can see the neckline cut. It’s a V-neck shape, which is very flattering. This outfit has some unique details too, a feature which few designers have: buttons on the neckline, extending down to the hem and sleeves. This added effect alone keeps the outfit interesting. The pants fit nicely, too. They look quite fitted and give a balanced proportion to the structure of the top.
Now, if we were to suggest a few tweaks, we’d start with the sleeves. Perhaps keeping them simple would clean up the whole look. The buttons are cool on the neckline and hem, but on the sleeves, they feel a little too much. If they want to be maintained, then maybe smaller ones are fine.

Also, playing around with the variations wouldn’t hurt. With a nice structured top and straight pants, offering something like a skirt option would look really right, wouldn’t it? Most two-piece outfits often stick to just one style, but this could be different. When you offer another outfit style, you provide customers with options to choose from, and that alone can make the label stand out.

This nude colour makes the outfit very appealing at first sight. And for the style of the outfit, the colour sure complements it. Talking about style, the jacket has quite a fun shape. It’s like the hem is quite asymmetrical because it overlaps and moves slightly upwards. The way it folds is interesting. Another interesting part of this outfit is the neckline. It seems the V-neck is a signature style of this brand. Just as it was used previously, it adds spice to the overall calmness of the outfit, showing a bit of skin on the chest area, yet still looking classy.

The pants are comfortable and look nice, though they’re quite long. It is loose also, but it lends it a relaxed and chill feel, which keeps the bottom part simple. This simplicity makes the pants quite plain, with not so much to describe. It still carries the same plain nude colour as the jacket, and the texture is smooth too. Overall, this is an exquisite piece.

To suggest a few tweaks, the designer might want to consider cutting down the pants a little to keep them slim. As for the length, it’s still nice, though they sort of hide the shoes and make the bottom look bulky. A tiny bit of ankle showing can change the whole look. Or even a little flare instead of a straight cut could add some flow and make it look softer. Just something small to bring more life to the lower part.

Also, including something small to break up the plain colour, like a thin belt, could really help. It doesn’t need much. Just one thing to give it a spark, so it doesn’t feel too flat. Even accessories like gold earrings or a bold clutch can help bring out the soft tone of the fabric, making it a really nice outfit. It just needs a tiny lift, something to make you remember it after you’ve looked away.

To crown it all, Ginika has done it again. She has served like she always does, and this time she came in hot. This year’s pieces? A work of art. We celebrate her artistry, and we can’t wait to see more from Gineva in years to come.

Abisola Omolade