If this was a dream, I wouldn’t want to wake up! We took a peek into the Ipinle and Dabira Collections from Hauwa De Zuzu, and what I saw excited me. It’s a riveting collage of traditional and contemporary elements dancing in tandem. The collaboration between denim, batik, Aso Oke, silk and lace is so seamless, you will think they belong together.
When I was in high school, fabric collages were one of my favourite ways to up-cycle, and I did so with bags, dresses and even shoes, wearing my rickety inventions with pride. Seeing these collections, I felt a twinge of nostalgia. It was like me but clearly executed better. Hauwa De Zuzu roughly translates to “uniquely beautiful”, and it is evident in the way each piece stands out.
Dabira, a glimpse at the past
A past collection, Dabira is still awe inspiring in the way it blends structure with notes of femininity. Like how the typical suits have deeper V-neck cuts and a cinch at the waist. Or we could talk about the voluminous boubous that seem to have lives of their own. However, the centre cinch and neck-to-sleeve embroidery are all reminiscent of ancient northern Nigerian women. This collection is a nod to powerful women and makes way for Hauwa De Zuzu’s latest collection, Ipinle.
Ipinle, the new regal
The new collection incorporates denim with typical traditional silhouettes like kaftans, boubous and exaggerated sleeves on dresses and two-piece sets. As a denim lover, I was especially entranced by how the fabric was used to create outfits that will definitely draw multiple generations together.
Hauwa De Zuzu’s pieces are a study in fun and unique fashion, somehow reinventing old trends through innovation.
