By Rita Okoye
Some brands come into the fashion world with such a powerful impact that can never be forgotten.

In the ever-evolving world of style, certain brands made inspirational statements with just their fashion labels. From Chanel’s liberation of women from corsets to Yves Saint Laurent’s democratisation of haute couture, and then Alexander McQueen’s dramatic fusion of art and fashion – fashion has seen more wonders than it can count.

Gucci with Alessandro Michele’s creative direction redefined luxury fashion and Nike’s innovative collaborations blurred the line between sportswear and high fashion successfully transforming athletic wear into a coveted commodity.

As fashion’s landscape evolves, these iconic brands remain etched in history, their impact forever altering the course of style but most importantly, their ability to go against the status quo by shattering conventions and redefining style made their influence resonate throughout the industry, inspiring a new wave of designers and enthusiasts.

In the course of this article, we will be introducing one of the many fashions enthuses who are making waves for themselves in the style domain.

Meet ANÚ Threads, a brand that came into the fashion industry with a mission to inspire confidence and self-expression in every individual who wears their creations. It is a place that brings culture and elegance force together to create fascinating apparel.

The brand was founded by Anuoluwapo Mutiat Isiaka a visionary designer. ANÚ Threads specialises in ready-to-wear collections that not only celebrate the vibrant spirit of Nigeria but also its heritage. The designer believes that fashion is more than just clothing, it is a statement of identity and a form of self-expression because of this Anuoluwapo is determined to uphold her mission of blending traditional Nigerian aesthetics with contemporary styles, creating unique pieces that are both timeless and modern.

Each garment fashion house is made by paying meticulous attention to detail, using high-quality fabrics and innovative techniques. Their collections are designed to empower individuals by giving them confidence and style with fashionable clothing. Their vision is to become a global leader in the fashion industry by showcasing the beauty and diversity of Nigerian culture through innovative and high-quality ready-to-wear designs.
On that note, let us introduce one of their bestselling collections to you.

The 2020 collection

The brand succeeded in creating this resonating collection which comprises two dresses. Both are ready-to-wear two-piece attire crafted with delicate and quality fabrics. The first of the collection is the Zee set.
This stylish set was designed to give you that posh and elegant look.

The name signifies the last letter of the alphabet, this dress is sure to get you to the top of the rank anytime, any day. The designer created this outfit out of inspiration to create a fashion line for working-class ladies who want to keep it simple but at the same time sophisticated.
This design is a fusion of a plain cream Crepe fabric with the subtle charm of patterned crepe.

This interesting combination reproduced a surplice blouse and a wide-leg pant.
The Surplice blouse is somewhat similar to a wrapped blouse.

However, in the case of this collection, the opening from the neckline closes up before the end, unlike the wrapped top which is left with no finishing but rather, with a rope-like attachment for fitting.

The patterned crepe is used in mapping out most of the design for this outfit as can be seen in the sleeve, burst area and the full-back length. The interesting features of this part of the piece are its long sleeves, a v-neckline, unique gathers and the X-outline.

The long sleeves run from the shoulder down to the wrist, a unique gathered stitch was used in the top sides of the fit moving down to create a v-neckline before smoothing out into an X-outline from one side to opposite ends respectively. This particular design is what accentuates the surplice fashion.
The lower piece is a wide-legged pant or trouser with inseam pockets and a zipper.

The wide-legged pants which are usually confused for palazzo trousers due to their looseness, is an ankle-length bottom with in-seam pockets also referred to as side pockets and a zipper specifically placed by the left side of the piece. The outstanding attribute of this other part of the piece is the systematic way both fabrics were mixed to create the Half-and-half appearance.

What’s even more interesting about this attire is that it can also be substituted as an all-occasion fit and this is because of its detachable qualities. this allows you to go about your styling in several ways. Here are some styling tips for the three types of events.
Formal setting: There are simple ways to rock the outfit in a formal environment. However, if you are going for a more complex look, you can infuse a T-lock, jewelled buckle, twist, cinch or even a metal belt to add a little flavour to your look. Then you can pair your looks with some simple jewellery, beautiful footwear and a classy handbag.
Informal events: For these sorts of outings, you can take a different approach by switching probably the top piece with a cropped top or the lower piece with a demi short or a wrapped short. However, if it’s such a casual occasion as a wedding party or a birthday party, the look in the image will also suffice or you could add on an hourglass longline steel boned corset for that extra flare. In this setting, you can do a freestyle on other accessories you might want to couple the outfit with. E.g. fancy slippers, half shoes, cross bags, etc.
Semi-formal occasion: This event supports the smart casual kind of look. So, you are going to be taking the ‘not too much, not too little’ approach to fit into this event. Apart from wearing the complete fit, you can also decide to switch it up with an off-shoulder blouse/ kitten heels, white chiffon shirts and plumps, pencil skirt and sandals, plain office pants and ballerina flats, etc. Other accessories of choice can also come in. Just remember to do YOU!

The second dress of the collection is also an all-occasion two-piece fashion clothing consisting of a blouse and a skirt. The designer derived inspiration to create this set from Nigeria’s love for festivity. Designer Anuoluwapo created this look for women who desire to look classy and elegant. The two-toned attributes of this attire represent the two vibrant-coloured Ankara fabrics used in creating the look. The bold patterns, contrasting colours, and flattering silhouette make you stand out beautifully.
This set is made up of a wrapped top and a flared skirt. The upper bodice outline includes puffed sleeves, a slightly plunged V-neck, and a ropey ending. Puffed sleeves are attached to designs to elude a polished appearance. With that in mind, the designer made one of the highlights of this dress to be a puffy sleeve secured with an elastic finish, followed by a v-neckline which showcases femininity and a ropey which allows you the freedom of deciding how to style your wrap.

However, the lower part of the dress is a midi skirt made out of a green coloured Ankara print with unique patterns. The starting of the shirt opens with a band design which emphasises the waistline and gives the dress a shape. In a bid to create a different narrative, the Anuoluwapo brilliantly introduced the bell flair as the key feature of the piece by giving a unique curvy cut to the fabric so that when sewn to the band, it falls in a bell flap. The last feature of the dress is the zipper which gives room for ease.

The dress is indeed one of a kind but as a suggestion, the designer could make adjustments to the length of the skirt reducing it to knee length. This will help the bell design stand out better.

Styling: Similar to the first of its collection, the Two-toned twist set can be styled in other ways different from the image. Being a two-piece outfit, the dress allows you to be stylish in your dressing. You can decide to follow the image but switching the knot in front to the back. That however is but one approach.
Another way to wear the dress is by making a simple knot at the back of the blouse and then tucking it into the skirt to create a gown look, you can also go the extra mile by attaching a waist belt to make it more realistic. For more casual occasions, there is also the option of wearing the piece separately. For example, the wrap blouse can go with jean trousers or a straight skirt while the skirt with a mono-strapped blouse or a flutter top, etc. Accessories like earrings, bracelets, wigs, footwear and handbags can follow.
Overall, ANÚ Threads 2020 collection is a true masterpiece, showcasing expertise in crafting admirable and stunning attires. Anuoluwapo Mutiat Isiaka’s attention to detail is top-notch and this is seen embodied in her brands with her creative clothing line. We celebrate her excellence in concocting exceptional designs.
Keep soaring!