By Yemisi Suleiman

‘Will you marry me?’

The uproar response of agitated spectators who hear a man ask his lover this question is usually ‘Say Yes.’ Regardless of the state of their relationship or the readiness of both parties to embark on the new journey that saying yes would entail, all people want to hear a lady say during a proposal is YES. Similarly, every fashion designer hopes to hear customers say yes to every piece of clothing they create.

Here, we will be reviewing the 2025 collection of a famous fashion brand in Nigeria, Qadir & Co. Sometime in 2019, Abdul-Qadir A. Abdul-Razaq founded his clothing brand.

He took little steps to promote his innovative clothing designs and develop his business idea. Over the years, he has built a supportive community and customer base that consistently supports every cloth produced by his brand. Let us analyse each dress in this collection to see if every dress released this year deserves a yes.

It would be fair to say that this dress is giving a mermaid. The overall look of this piece resembles mermaid dresses. The elaborate long sleeves are the wow feature of this dress.

Although it is not a common design, it complements this piece and syncs with the pleat designs on the lower body of the dress. This design enhances the body shape of the wearer. It is the perfect fit for women with hourglass figures.

The dress’s fit at the upper bodice looks like a second skin. The snug fabric emphasises the model’s body shape.

This dress was also made to boost the wearer’s confidence. The colour can also improve the mood of the wearer. It is the perfect outfit for a dinner event. The flare of the dress creates a dramatic appeal. It is the exact dose of elegance needed to turn the heads of admirers.

Abdul-Qadir made a perfect choice with this crepe fabric. The material’s texture is light on the skin, making it comfortable for extended wear and warm weather.

This dress is more than a piece of clothing. It is a tool for self-expression and would most likely interest feminists. The colour shade is striking and is an excellent choice for women who love bold colours.

However, it may not appeal to a broad audience, particularly those who prefer simple dress styles. The truth is that this design might not receive a definite ‘YES’ from all potential customers because some women prefer neutral tones.

The round neck of the gown looks a bit restrictive. A lower cut neckline at the anterior and rear view would offer a more flattering look and elongate the neck. This neckline design leaves little room for styling with quiet necklaces. Bold chokers and neck pieces are the perfect match for this piece. The fabric flows to the shoulders in a bodycon style, giving it a formal look.

The shoulder line is smooth and well-defined, creating a sleek presence for the fitted bust area. An invisible zipper joins the fabric at the back, adding a professional touch to the piece.
An engaging factor of this dress is the fitted, dramatic long bell sleeves.

The umbrella cut joined at the wrist creates an interesting effect on the overall look of the piece. It is a unique design that would excel at fashion events or exhibitions; however, it is not suitable for casual wear. The length of the sleeves would get in the way of everyday activities. Perhaps having the umbrella cut at the elbow region would have been more appropriate.

The pleat design attached diagonally is a creative style that flaunts Abdul-Qadir’s artistic skill. From the rear view, the design forms a slit at the back that allows free movement for the wearer. The flare of the dress flows to the ground, elongating the wearer’s height. One more suggestion to elevate this dress would be to uplift the tailoring.

The seam has rough stitches that reduce the quality of the dress. If the team at Qadir & Co. takes note of the highlighted recommendations, then this gown would get a definite yes from its target audience. This piece would be best marketed at a runway fashion show or in an atelier.

The second dress is commonly referred to as ‘Bubu’ in Nigeria. Long flowing gowns are called bubu because of the loose fit they have on a woman’s body. It gives off a luxurious look, and the choice of fabric can also indicate the class to which the wearer belongs. This pink crepe material is nothing short of phenomenal. The dress screams comfort and elegance.
The square neckline broadens the shoulders, giving the wearer a formal look. Below the neck cut are three pink buttons positioned vertically. This design adds detail to the plain fabric, engaging the eyes of potential customers. It is a subtle design used for formal clothes. However, using buttons with a contrasting colour or perhaps gold, bronze, or silver studs would have been a better option to create more visual interest. The shoulders have a smooth joining that flows freely to the bishop sleeves. The shoulder-to-cuff styling is loose, allowing free movement of the hands, and the snug cuff at the wrist is concealed within the folds.
Abdul-Qadir got inspiration for this piece from vintage designs.

The concealed zip at the back joins the material firmly, giving the upper body a firm fit. From the waist, the gown flows freely to the ground. The material is used to form a creative design on both sides of the gown. The pleats form gathers on either side of the gown, adding more detail to the piece. It is the perfect design for a luxurious, flowing dress. The use of a different material for the pleat design could have enhanced this gown. Picture this: a design featuring gold studs slightly below the neckline, replacing pink buttons, and a champagne pleat design at the sides, replacing the pink pleats. This piece is unique in its way. It would cater to women who are in search of a flowing evening dress.

Qadir & Co. saved their best design in this collection as the last piece. This brown evening gown offers a double effect that surpasses the other two dresses. The brown fabric has a shiny look that engages admirers. The colour scheme creates enough room for styling. This gown can be worn with gold or silver accessories and heels.

The round neckline gives this gown a modest feel, syncing with the long bell sleeves. The fabric forms a small puff that broadens and drapes the shoulder, flowing freely to the flare, which starts a little below the elbow, adding a stylish feel to the dress.

An invisible zip joins the fabric together at the back, drawing attention to the bust of the wearer.
At the hip region, the material is used artistically to form a dart manipulation that forms smooth ruffles at the front of the dress. This creative design detail was executed perfectly, and it is the wow factor of this dress. It is a contemporary style used by designers to draw attention to the curves of the wearer. The material flows after this design like a drape, forming a mermaid flare. Elegant is an understatement for the overall look of this gown.

This piece showcases the professionalism of the team at Qadir & Co. Most women would confidently say yes to this dress without hesitation. Every step of production was done with precision. From the selection of material to the crafting of the design and eventually sewing, every detail was executed perfectly. This gown would excel in high-end boutiques and online platforms if marketed effectively.

This collection explores design trends in both traditional styles and modern times. The use of bell and bishop sleeves makes each piece suitable for both formal and casual events. It also experiments with stretchy, wrinkle-free crepe materials.

Indeed, Qadir & Co. follows transformations in the fashion industry. Each dress tried out different design ideas, engaging in both the intellectual and emotional aspects of fashion.
These outfits leave us anticipating the next collection. It is one thing to deliver excellence in a collection; it is another to keep up the pace.

Can Qadir & Co. match up to this energy in their upcoming fashion line? In addition to creating beautiful pieces, can they make women’s wear that dares to challenge current fashion trends? Perhaps they can. Or maybe not. In fashion, anything is possible if the designer keeps thinking outside the box.