By Yemisi Suleiman
When fashion discourse ensues, simplicity scarcely comes to mind. Rarely does anyone think of plain dresses with no dexterous cuts or straight jeans. Maybe some do. But the majority don’t. They mostly turn to the grand styles.

They think of the flashy ones that are red-carpet worthy and qualify for glamorous events. Where fashion is, many people, especially those who are introverted, unorthodox, and conservative, sometimes struggle to find what expresses their personality.

It’s almost as if fashion is made for extroverts and those who are not timid about exploring colours and crazy cuts.

And that’s quite unreal… because fashion is for all. Like Coco Chanel once said, ‘fashion is architecture; it’s a matter of proportion’. Some want it big and flashy, others like it small and cool. Several fashion designers are now beginning to see this loophole in the fashion scene.

They’re becoming more intentional in curating modest clothing designs. One such designer is Aisoben, a Nigerian women’s fashion brand. Under the leadership of its creative director, Aisosa Faithful, the brand is committed to the elegance of slow fashion and the dignity of ethical craftsmanship for the minority in the fashion world.

With its newly released design collection, Class in Simplicity, a third since its establishment, Aisoben made a statement for the seemingly minority in the fashion world.

However, it’s one thing to care, it’s another to take the right actions towards showing it. And that’s what we’re here for: to assess the quality, creativity, artisanal dexterity, and finishing skills of this design brand.

And so, Court rise…
The Jurist is here in full legal regalia… ready to judge!

The very first outfit we have here is a beautifully curated two-piece. It’s styled in an all-white crepe fabric, which is known for its durability, ease of styling, and breathability. Many Nigerian designers prefer the crepe material for its draping quality. And Aisoben has turned to this same fabric that no designer can go wrong with.

Seems like a ‘play it safe’ move.
The top of this attire exquisitely displays the creative vision of this brand’s design team. First, the high collar adds an attractive look to this top. Its bell-shaped, long sleeves are the highlight of this design. They perfectly mirror a modest and moderate dresser. No inappropriate body parts are left uncovered. Yet, it is absolutely gorgeous, radiant, and indeed classy, just as the collection name suggests.

Aisoben appears to be dedicating this collection to the modest, non-flashy, and quiet type of women across the globe. And it’s pretty fascinating that the designs are very eye-catching despite being less flashy and less revealing.

The wrist wraps on the garment appear overly loose and unstructured, which can give an untidy or unfinished look to the design. Adding a button or a discreet fastening mechanism to secure the wraps would create a cleaner, more polished appearance.

This small adjustment would enhance the overall aesthetic by providing a neater, more refined silhouette at the wrists, contributing to a more cohesive and professional presentation of the outfit.

On a second look, however, it could be part of the unique features that set this piece apart from every other bell-shaped sleeve top that may be out there.

Meanwhile, the floor-length skirt gives a more dexterous cut and stitch. Cut in a fitted, yet free enough for movement, the high waist skirt features slightly horizontal pleats that are held together with a vertical stitch at its centre. The subtle pleats run from the top of the skirt, well over the knee area, and curve inward to form a more pronounced layer of pleats.

Without doubt, this is an interesting design. It shows that the brand is truly dedicated to fashion that lasts. Besides, it’s believed that true beauty lies in intentionality, quality, and individuality; and that’s exactly what Faithful’s design team looks to accentuate with this 2023 collection of clothing.

We can see the pattern very clearly… and it’s working perfectly.
The lower part of the skirt has an A-line cut that further elevates the stylishness of the attire. Just underneath the inverted pleat, a layer of the white crepe fabric drapes downward with curves like curtain folds, which form the floor-length area of the skirt. It’s amazing how such a simple design holds so much complexity. And that speaks to one thing: Aisoben’s artisanal skills.

The back view is as interesting as the front. It completely replicates the pleats, folds, and drape. It carries white zippers that allow for easy wearing and removal. Aisoben has proven a point with this piece. And it’s possible to look elegant without compromising on modesty.
However, this piece could be better if it were made into a dress. That way, the style flows downward and better highlights the wearer’s shape.

Also, the finishing touch isn’t impeccable. The band of the skirt, for instance, isn’t firm enough, and one could see the opening like a worn-out elastic band. Just because introverts prefer less shouty designs doesn’t mean they don’t want quality or perfection. Finishes are what make clothing designs professional, and Aisoben needs to do better in that aspect.
Moving on, the next design on our list is this beautiful ankle-length dress, made with a crimson cotton fabric with an elastane component.

The first attraction to this dress is the V-neckline, resulting from the wrap design of the topmost part of the dress. Pulling forward from the right shoulder with two vertical pleats, the fabric cups the right chest area and stops at the upper belly area just slightly above the wearer’s waist. Likewise, the left side of the chest. And that’s how this design team arrived at the V-neckline for this dress.
That feature is not only functional, but it also evokes femininity in such a moderate way. It’s a deliberate flash of skin that accentuates the delicacy of the female gender. Simple, yet classy… again, we see the statement clearly spelt out on these pieces.
The dress is styled with very long sleeves, higher above the wearer’s wrist. Taking a closer look at the sleeves, they appear to have some slant folds as if the sewing machine clipped too hard, pulling the thread with the fabric when it ought not to. Unless it is another deliberate design concept introduced to add a sense of style to the design, then it’s not supposed to be so. Fitted sleeves, as we know them, are sleek, smooth on the skin, and definitely not wrinkled as they appear here. That’s another finishing defect that this brand needs to pay close attention to.

And it’s not just because of how it looks, it’s more because of how it would feel on the wearer’s body. It might cling uncomfortably to their arms like a wet cloth or have an irking twist on the skin. And that’s not good enough. We know no one is above mistakes, but when those errors surface during production, it’s best to address them before they are released to the public. Customers want to look awesome and feel great in the attire they’ve spent their money on.
Meanwhile, the lower part of this dress gives an elegant vibe that takes the simplicity of the piece up a notch. A substantial portion of the cotton fabric is spread across the dress, extending from just above the belly to the knee area, thereby enhancing its length to the wearer’s ankles.

The same piece of cloth is hemmed to the dress with tiny pleats that form gathers at the base of the dress. The upper part, however, drapes down carefully. But for the high back neck and the disappearing, crimson-coloured zipper, the back view of this dress would have been the same as its front.

This beautiful design shows Aisoben’s unwavering commitment to designing down-to-earth attire while still keeping it stylish and elegant. The functionality of this piece meets acute creativity; no wonder it has captured the public’s hearts all over Nigeria and beyond.
Here, in a collection of nothing short of awesome pieces, we arrive at this final outfit that features a wrap floor-length shirt dress. One look at this piece and one can tell that it was meticulously curated with a glittery off-white satin fabric. With its polished, shiny surface, satin is self-radiant. And that explains why some fashion designers who don’t intend to have complex silhouettes for their designs opt for it.

In this case, Aisoben is known for designing garments with a clean bodice. And this choice of fabric is perfect for that effect in the outcome of the design. After all, if the brand aims to empower moderate dressers and offer them garments that make them feel remembered despite their shy nature, the choice of fabric must speak for them.

The wrap dress also features a V-neckline like the previous piece. Its roundish collar lay perfectly, one folding into the other to form a suit-like wrap. Edging towards the left side of the wearer is an array of six buttons in a vertical order, one strapping down the outer flap of the upper part of the garment. Beneath those buttons, the wrap is freed to fall and form a slit for ease of movement. Its long sleeves are hemmed with a flay funnel-shaped cut at the wrist.

But as earlier said, Aisoben can do better with its final touches on its garments. They’re clearly all creatively curated and would truly elevate any wardrobe.

Overall, this collection is a delight to review. The public would find this collection of designs lovely. And there’s no doubt that Aisoben is going places. In only three years of entering the fashion market, Faithful has done a remarkable job with this astonishing line-up and brand in general. Great job, Aisoben… the world is watching.