The new SlickFit collection from Godwin A. Ideho called “A Father’s Love”, is a very heartfelt tribute to the relationship between a father and child, and it is a reflection of the designer’s personal experience with his own father.

Taking his inspiration from his father’s style and aesthetic, Godwin creates a collection that feels grown-up and mature. The tailoring shows a man who knows what he wants and is not afraid to express himself through fashion.

The silhouettes have a classic structure and are tailored in a way that creates confidence rather than flashiness. The presence of wide leg trousers, dashiki jackets and shoulder padded blazers is nostalgic, reminding us of the era to which the father being honoured, belongs.

Although it would have been nice to see what Godwin had in store for the ladies, it is understandable why no piece was created for them in this collection.

To further allow us to immerse ourselves in the nostalgia of his creation, Godwin used fabrics such as brocade, cotton, Swiss lace, and – what is now slowly becoming the brand’s signature fabric- the Akwete.

Using these fabrics, Godwin reimagined his father’s signature styles. Notably, the Dashiki, which he paired with a matching shokoto and fila.

A minor flaw in this collection though, is that it had a lot going on colour wise. For a mature collection, one would have expected to see more subtle hues or a good balance of colours rather than a wide range of colours that did nothing to elevate the pieces.

What does work well is the inspiration behind the collection. The idea of using fashion as a way to explore the love between father and child is one that is powerful and easily relatable, and Godwin tells the story well. From the moment Godwin modelled his father’s style and combined it with culturally rich textiles, he made it easy to share his experiences and memories.

With a well-constructed silhouette, high-quality fabric, and a strong desire to honour his father’s style, Godwin A. Ideho, created a collection that is both tender and powerful.