Many Nigerian labels have struggled to find the balance between the creative and retail sides of the business, often over-tasking themselves with multiple ineffective lines in a bid to reach mass markets while somehow still holding on to their luxury label. UK based emerging label Honey Malaolu has no such problems. It considers itself a bespoke luxury brand and focuses primarily on the creating original designs, a job it does surprisingly well if the label’s new capsule collection ‘Metamorphosis‘ is anything to go by.
Taking inspiration from the long mined life cycle of butterflies, Malaolu chooses to favor a pseudo-literal translation, using butterfly motifs as the primary print of the collection. Kimono inspired wrap dresses, cinched with Obi belts harken to Feudal Japan, Ruffling and ruching adorn sleeves and create exaggerated decolettage. Malaolu puts her spin on the off shoulder trend with sweet heart necklines and sheer sleeves and shows that co-ords can be high fashion.
These experiments with silhouette show that the label is adventurous, but it is dexterous construction that truly sets it apart. All the clothes are cut to perfection, not an inch out of place, not a lumpy seam or distracting ruffle.
This is why the Metamorphosis collection only marginally underwhelms, because considering the label’s previous work and its savvy creative director, a capsule collection doesn’t quite do Malaolu’s talents justice.
