By Rita Okoye
Everyone has that specific thing they look for in an outfit. For some people, it’s the length. Many appreciate colour, while others cherish fluidity and style. Whichever the case, fashion over the years has shown that beauty is not just in the excessiveness of clothing, but in the simplicity and thought behind every cut and pattern of the cloth.
Zhea Fashion World has been a force driving this concept, amongst many other designers in the Nigerian fashion industry.
Established by Suliat Olajumoke Folawewo in 2018, the brand hits the market with a new collection of clothing, sparking interest from the media and fashion enthusiasts across Africa. Even luxury fashion stores like Temple Muse and Alara Boutique have marvelled at Zhea’s collections, hoping to stock up on its amazing collection of wear.
And that’s not surprising, over the years, the brand has produced eye-catching and durable outfits. Today, I will be investigating Zhea’s 2025 collection, examining what makes her designs unique and sustainable, even without being ‘too much’.
Zhea’s first piece opens with a peach satin-like dress. At first glance, what comes to mind is ‘this looks like a bridal dress’, right? But in all honesty, this outfit is more than just a bridal look. It transcends into different purposes for different occasions, whether for date nights or event parties. With its unmistakable feminine colour, this pretty gown is also a definite pass for peach lovers, and it’s pretty much a piece every girl would want in her closet.
What makes this look very eye-catching is, of course, the bow at the shoulder; this dress can even be said to be the highlight of Zhea’s collection because of the signature bow. The bow draws attention to the shoulder, making what would seem ordinary, extraordinary. I’m sure the designer didn’t just want this to be an everyday casual look; she wanted this dress to own the room, even with its simplicity and calm structure.
However, despite how significant that gigantic bow is on this design, it isn’t perfect. For one, it’s unnecessarily big. And a bit distracting. Perhaps, if the size is reduced and well-tailored, it’ll have a better effect on the outfit.
Moving on. The half-oval cut across the chest region also enhances the dress’s creativity. Now I know this dress would be a head turner at events.
The waistband also introduces the dress’s easy flair, giving room for air below the legs and highlighting the shoes. On a good note, this dress could pass for a bold Cinderella look. Good job, Zhea team.
While I may have given praises where deserved, I will be honest, some areas of the dress just aren’t doing it for me. And I’ll propose a few adjustments for its structural improvement. I’ll begin with the waistband of this elegant flay gown. If you look closely, you’ll see exactly what I see: the waistline is way too high. The high waistline and flay distract the audience and pull them away from the main focus. For a more structured look, the designer should consider making the waistbands shorter, so the flay can be more voluminous.
After all, the beauty of a flay dress is in its flay.
Still on the flay, while a mild and settled flay works, a plump and fuller flay would have brought so much life into this gown. Yes, there are flayed gowns that don’t necessarily do all the work; they are either laid down or they are on the average side.
But with such endearing shoulders, this dress will work perfectly well with a plumper flay. Zhea has done an absolutely fantastic job, but the team should consider adding firmer materials below the gown to make it better. By doing so, the bottom half would be raised, giving off a full-blown Cinderella look. Best believe that this concept will have the industry rethinking an idea that was deemed outdated. Who knows, maybe Zhea could even restart the trend and have the audience yearning for ball dresses again. How cool will that be?
My final, and perhaps the most vital recommendation for this outfit, speaks to the shoulders and the chest region. For the chest, I would recommend better cupping. When a dress is too tight around the chest, it loses the beauty and confidence it is supposed to convey.
Remember, Zhea’s fashion world is a brand designed to give beauty while serving comfort. So the essence of the chest on this dress being this tight might not fully represent the brand’s mission. So the brand might want to give the chest region a little boost with an added cup for a better appearance.
No doubt, the shoulders look creative. But I think it might be a bit excessive. The bow at the chest already passes the message of ‘princess fit’, so the extra hunch at the shoulder might not be necessary. I recommend that the designer keep the chest bow, but lose the shoulder bow. If at all, Zhea’s design team wishes to have both bows, they should make the shoulder bow detachable for a better structure and overall balance.
The second outfit is a two-piece fit. It makes an entrance with its beautiful colour combination and choice of material. It looks soft in the eyes and is very pretty to wear. What woman wouldn’t want both combinations on her body? From what I can see, the teal-coloured, wide-legged trousers also look dashing with their cotton-like material. Clearly, these pants look easy to wear. From the waist down, you can tell the model had no issue whatsoever fitting in.
Zhea fashion house has duly highlighted its ability to merge colours. This blue/green hue, fading from turquoise to teal green, gives that Caribbean sea vibe, signifying calmness and nature. The colour combination syncs so well and makes the outfit stand out. The corset top shows off its handwork with brief ruffles. Of course, without the ruffles, this top would still have made headlines, but with them, it adds another kind of grace to the entire look. You can never go wrong with this outfit for any occasion.
However, the trouser looks a little loose at the hip. Perhaps Zhea needs to pay attention to fitting and sizing to realise precise firmness where necessary. Having a more fitting feel would, more or less, make it perfect. I also think they should have been styled differently. What is currently in view looks a bit loose and flabby, which could undermine the designer’s overall creative idea. If the designer intends to keep the attire free and fluid, then attaching side pockets would have done just the trick.
As for the top, the structure looks nice and detailed for sure. The neckline is rare, yet basic. With a more unique and creative cut, the top would pop better. A slant cut on the neckline, for instance, would work magic on this piece, revealing both elegance and femininity. Suliat’s team could also consider toning down the ruffles so they fit only around the arm and not below it. Right now, the ruffles, because of how ‘let down’ they are, hide the fitting of the corset top, and there’s a need to see more of its accentuation of the wearer’s shape.
To spice things up a little, mild accessories like a silver chain and bracelet could be added around the neck and on the wrist to give the final look a touch of class and beauty. That’s how it becomes apparent that you are talking business.
The final attire of Zhea’s 2025 collection comes in a mix of a burnt orange shiny satin skirt and an orange crepe top. And yes, this design looks well cut and detailed. Almost as if the designer heard me talk about the neckline and the chest region in the last outfits. Here is an outfit that doesn’t just speak runway-worthy, but red-carpet-worthy. The brand’s design team pairs plain material with pleated material, and this look, I must say, gives off a bold, creative vibe.
One unique feature of outfits like this is that they can be paired differently with other pieces. The plain top can be paired with plain black trousers, and the pleated skirt can likewise be paired with a white basic top and still look classy. The designer’s choice of cut in the neck region and around the stomach is also very appealing. You can tell the brand didn’t want to go for basic, but rather aimed to spin heads. And that, I admit, Suliat’s brand has successfully done.
Now, what is a Zhea’s design without a bit of creativity? The wrist of this top embodies the beauty and softness of the pleated material. This concept is missing in the industry, and I commend the brand’s design team for the courage to chip it in on this piece. I honestly think if Zhea keeps this pace setting up, it could stir something huge in the fashion industry, causing a disruption in global fashion trend.
But like any elegant design, something definitely gives off the impression of needing to be retouched. As I mentioned earlier, the designer has a unique talent for merging fabrics and colours, and I give her flowers for that. Regarding the skirt, I think it might be too long and could obstruct the wearer’s movement.
Supporting your dress or skirt with one hand during an event can be uncomfortable for many. It’s something most people will likely not indulge in, except, of course, for the Met Gala or red carpet. Other than that, Zhea’s design team should consider reducing the length a little to accommodate movement.
Also, I believe the top arm could be a bit firmer to add more detail. Right now, it looks a bit loose, making it lose its unique fit with the body. I believe they should complement each other in firmness and fitness. The designer can also make the ruffles around the wrist detachable, so the wearer can choose to take them off or keep them on.
Above all, this piece is unique and offers options, which is one thing every woman loves. So on the day you don’t feel like wearing pleats, just style this gorgeous top with a flay pants, flay skirt, or pencil skirt, and I assure you it will still look stylish. Because you’ll agree with me that one can never go wrong with a two-piece.
So far, so good. It’s been a remarkable journey viewing the incredible pieces of Zhea Fashion World. And I can tell you for free that all the outfits in this 2025 collection were well thought out for the girly princess types, casual ladies, and bold misses. Zhea has shown the public time and time again that the brand has the beauty of every woman at heart and has committed itself to giving quality without compromising comfort. With better attention to my little recommendations, Zhea is sure to fly.