The bride’s dress is usually one of the biggest attraction points at weddings. Everyone sits, waiting to see her come in and take their breaths away with her beauty. Behind the bride’s dress is a fashion designer, who has spent hours designing that beautiful piece of art and bringing it to life. Here is where they share their secrets with us.
Previously, we interviewed Abisola Imotola on the creative process behind her bouncy curly wig. This week, we spoke with Tofunmi Ajibade on the creative process behind the wedding dress that she has fondly named Ádábá.
Eunice Tofunmi Ajibade is the Creative Director of Arike’s Robe. Arike’s Robe is a womenswear brand that specialises in the creation of elegant wedding dresses, traditional outfit, aso-ebi, lace, and bridal train outfits for the stylish woman. They also help to package aso-ebi.
Currently, a Masters student at the University of Ibadan, her love for clothes making drove her to learn the art of tailoring in 2014. One who wanted to be a Professor, her journey into fashion entrepreneurship started as a hobby. After sewing clothes for her sister, herself and some friends, she found herself looking for a business name and opening an Instagram page for her brand. Thus, Arike’s Robe was born.
What was the Process of Making the Adaba Wedding Gown Like?
The ÁDÁBÁ dress was made for a calm gentle young bride. She reminded me of a dove and I like Yoruba so I translated dove into Yoruba, hence the name. The dress took approximately two and a half weeks to make but the time was worth it.
The bride wanted something simple but elegant. Something that would flatter her shape without drowning her, and, most importantly, something her church would approve of.
The Making
The upper bodice of the dress is a corset covered in deconstructed lace fabric. This was the part that took up most of the production time as I first had to make a satin corset and then embellish it with lace and pearls. The lace was handstitched onto the dress to make it long-lasting and give it a neat finish.
The ball skirt is made of a layer of satin as the base and several layers of tulle. The final layer on top is tulle with lace embroidery at the bottom.
I chose tulle because of its lightweight and lace detailing because tulle and lace are a great mix. The bead detailing at the back was the highlight for me. I feel the back of clothes is neglected a lot so I love to pay special attention to it.
What Factors do you Consider when Making Wedding Dresses for Clients?
1. The Bride’s Figure/Shape
For me, the dress has to be super flattering on the bride. I always ensure that the dress I make enhances the beautiful physical qualities of my bride and flatters her in all ways. So, a bride’s shape plays a major role in the silhouette of her dress and even the fabrics that will be used to make the dress.
When I’ve studied her body, I can tell what will and will not look good on her. I use this knowledge to help create a beautiful dress for her.
2. The Bride’s vision
Most women have an idea of what they want to look like on their wedding day. They might not have the exact picture of it in their minds yet, but they will have an idea. While some brides know exactly what they want, others don’t.
I always make sure to ask the bride what she wants to look like on her big day. Once I have an idea of the effect she wants to create with her look, I will have an idea of what type of dress to make to match her vision.
3. The Bride’s Complexion
The complexion of the bride matters a lot. Some fabrics do better with dark skin than they would with light skin and vice versa. I look out for my bride’s complexion, especially when picking fabrics for the traditional wedding outfit.
4. Church Rules
If any, church rules on wedding dresses, are very important when making a wedding dress for a bride. I always make sure to ask what her church approves of and what they disapprove of so I know what I can do with her dress.
5. Her Budget
The bride’s budget is a very important factor to consider. It determines what I can and cannot do with a dress. However, regardless of how high or low her budget is, I try to maximise and stick to it.
And that is how the Adaba wedding dress is made! What part of this did you find most helpful? Let us now in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you 🙂
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