After a three year hiatus, menswear designer Kelechi Odu returned to the Lagos Fashion and Design Week platform to debut his new collection. Contending with some of the strongest names- Orange Culture debuting a diffusion line and younger brands like T.I Nathan and Maxivive coming into their own with experimental collections,- 2015 was the year no reputable menswear designer could afford a no show.
The Kelechi Odu showcase is built on the general principles on which the eponymous brand was created after Odu decided to put his womenswear brand, Children of Victoria on hold to work ”dressing men for the tropics”.
Odu is never one to shy away from colours as he uses lightweight cottons, lines and chiffon in sorbets and pastels, working a minimalist aesthetic. But he also experiments with androgyny, sending skrousers and oversized jumpsuits, tunics and chiffon floor length jackets and wrap shirts. The most interesting pieces from the collection are an elastic band neckline to create pleating on his shirts.
The Kelechi Odu brand has always impressed with their accessories and this season is no different, as Odu literally reinvents the wheel with a tasseled sandal-wingtip hybrid that straddles the line between clean and casual.
Odu’s collection is a great reminder of why his brand is pioneer in Nigerian menswear, he is able to innovate while staying wearable.
