THE DINNER SERIES: GINEVO’S 2025 COLLECTION

The beauty of the fashion industry lies in the heart of creativity.

It is incredible to know that there is no restriction on a designer’s inspiration. Fashion creatives are given the freedom to explore various design concepts and even search deep within themselves to create new styles. In fashion, nothing is impossible. Who would have thought that stock jeans would one day be scarred to form what is today known as ‘ripped wear’?

It might interest you to know that just as ripped jeans have been widely accepted in the world today as a fashion trend, so also, many other creative designs have been made the ‘norm’ simply because fashion designers have dared to challenge old designs. Chisom Clara Aguocha is one designer who has consistently proven over the past few years to be a pace setter in the industry, who introduces new trends.

Does the name ring a bell, though?

Well, if it doesn’t, allow me to introduce you to an emerging fashion designer in Nigeria. Chisom happens to be the CEO of Ginevo, a fashion brand that aims to produce exquisite women’s outfits that make a statement. For Chisom, fashion is art. This mindset has served as an inspiration to all her designs. She sees fabrics as a canvas on which she can pour out design inspirations. When she cuts textiles, she creates clothes that inspire others to express themselves. Ginevo’s 2025 collection was released a few months ago, and it is such an honor to be the one reviewing it.

Here is the first piece in the dinner series.

This black gown is a must-have in every woman’s closet. It is made from two different black cotton fabrics that are soft and smooth to the touch. One of the black materials has a pattern design on it. It is decorated with several rhombus shapes with tiny square boxes in them. The pattern on the fabric is almost unnoticeable from afar, but upon close inspection, one can behold the beauty of the material. However, you must agree with me that the dress carries a mixture of medieval times and present design. The maggot sleeves combined with the sleek crafting of the piece, indeed, took me down memory lane.

The first engaging feature of this piece is the neckline. The patterned fabric sits high and close around the neck like a choker. It highlights the wearer’s neck and shoulders. This style is the ideal dinner design for modest dressers who want to look elegant while still covered up. It gives the wearer a confident look that draws attention to the face while making the statement, ‘I am beautiful, and I know it.’

Next to catch one’s attention is the shoulder seam. The patterned material is hemmed in tiny pleats at the shoulder region. The stitch forms a moderate elevation that highlights the shoulders. This design adds detail to the shoulder line as the material flows freely to form long sleeves that wrap firmly around the arms. At the wrist, a firm cut is made, and large pleats are joined to form an umbrella design. Overall, the sleeve is a unique characteristic of this piece. However, it is not the most suitable style for dinner events. It would constantly come in the way of the wearer’s food and is unhygienic.

Imagine going to the restroom with these exaggerated sleeves. The material of your dress is prone to coming into contact with the surfaces in the toilet, regardless of how cautious you are. Just think of the health hazard one can expose themselves to if they proceed to eat with those sleeves. A much better option would have been to have the umbrella flare end at the wrist. Or perhaps plain long sleeves that also stop at the wrist.

A black invisible zipper joins the gown together at the back, making the upper bodice firm and defining the wearer’s bust. The patterned material flows freely from the waist downwards. Its long length elongates the body of the model, making her look taller. The free shape of the gown makes this piece suitable for plus-size women. It also helps to hide the wearer’s hips, which would appeal to shy dressers.

At six different edges, a plain black fabric is used to create a fascinating design that stands out from all other features of this gown. The material is cut to make vertical gathers from the waist region downwards. The tailoring was done perfectly, and it serves as evidence of the excellent craftsmanship at Ginevo’s studio. The use of a contrasting color would have given this piece a dramatic look. Imagine using a white or red plain fabric instead of black? Wouldn’t it look great? The black plain fabric still works, but it does look monotonous and quite dull.

Going into the next outfit.

Chisom was successfully able to play with two shades of green using different materials. The first fabric is a light green net material that has floral designs. It forms loose long sleeves with a fitted cuff at the wrist. The cuff restricts the clothing to suit women with small wrist sizes, thus limiting the target customers for the brand. A simple sleeve that ends at the wrist would have been a more preferred option.

The second fabric is a dark green textile that has a unique feel on the skin. It is the perfect material for both cold and warm weather. It also has tiny spiral lines that add details to the material. The fabric was creatively used to form a slant neckline from the upper bust region of the right side to the left shoulder line. This design is a creative style much similar to what can be worn for a gala night. The fabric wraps firmly around the bust and is held at the back with a green invisible zipper. It kind of reminds me of the earthy theme for AMVCA 2025, especially with the mix of green fabrics.

Drama begins at the waist of the dress. At the posterior end of this dress, the fabric is sewn in at the waist to form a flare skirt, which ends below the knees. On the other hand, the front view has a totally different look. A slant n-cut is made to flaunt the wearer’s legs. The thighs are exposed to engage the attention of admirers.

This style is actually the Wow-feature of this piece. But it would be a turn-off to women with thick thighs or skin burns. The net fabric could have been used in that section to complement the sleeves and also cover up excess skin. The dark green fabric was manipulated to design the edge of the gown. At the front, a double layer of the edge design was added for extra details. Overall, this is a classic piece that would be best marketed in an atelier.

Now to the final piece in the dinner collection.

Chisom ends this fashion series with a black two-piece. The colour choice is neutral but perfect. If you have watched the movie called Wednesday, you will attest that the back view of the dress exudes the same kind of look and confidence that the character Wednesday did in the movie.

The first fabric used in this dress was a plain black cotton material. It was used to make a palazzo trouser. The highlight of the trousers is the wide legs that don’t just look aesthetically pleasing, but also provide optimal comfort for the wearer. The loose fit makes the model look effortlessly classy. However, a slimmer trouser size would have also been more preferable. The loose legs of this pair of trousers completely hide the wearer’s hips. A fitter palazzo trouser would enhance the wearer’s hips better while still being comfortable.

The second piece is a short-sleeved blouse made from the same black fabric. A black invisible zipper connects it at the back. However, there is an additional twist to the design. A different black textile is creatively implemented in the blouse’s style. It is manipulated to form a spiral pleat design, similar to that at the edge of the second piece in this collection. At both the front and back of the blouse, two layers of this spiral design are attached to add a dramatic effect to this piece. It is the perfect design to drape body contours, especially for women with a larger bust size.

The material is extended at both ends and flows freely, forming a small trail on the ground and resembling what can only be worn on a fashion runway. The extension can also be styled around the arms to avoid it from touching the floor. The use of a neutral color, such as white, could have been used to create the dramatic design on the blouse. It could have created a double effect for this piece, without affecting the designer’s originality and the piece’s ability to be styled easily.

To be frank, Chisom outdid herself. This collection is simply a reflection of where African fashion is headed. With designers like Chisom going out of the norm, African designers are becoming worthy contenders on the global fashion stage. In fact, I dare say that if the corrections highlighted are worked on, there is no stopping Ginevo from rising the ladder of influence in the fashion industry. For me, this dinner collection is an 8 out of 10. I can’t wait to review Ginevo’s next series because I know it can only get better.

Abisola Omolade