INSIDE UCHENNA ELOKE’S TIMELESS TREASURE COLLECTION

Right from when the business of clothing people became a creative endeavour, clothes makers have sought to distinguish themselves in one way or the other.

Clothing artists have therefore built concepts and philosophies around and into the clothes they make.

Eloke Uchenna Oluchukwu, the brain behind the clothing line, Euchey Couture, is a young clothing artist driven by her passion for creativity. One of her guiding philosophies in clothing people is making dresses that offer comfort, and yet, elegant and stylish.

Uche, as she is fondly called, was lucky to have a good education, courtesy of parents who were teachers. Her sound education, talent, determination, stylishness, entrepreneuring spirit, discipline and ambition, all combined to shape and define her brand.

Amongst her masterpieces is a dress in the collection she titled TIMELESS TREASURE. It is a combination of imported lace material and African print. The African print, bearing exquisite designs made with black, white, violet, and green colours, can be dismantled and won separately, but it would leave a large part of the high bust and the legs up to the knees exposed.

On the other hand, the entire dress could have been made with the lace material, but because the lace material is transparent, it will need another support material sewn inside it to cover the wearer’s undies. This is where the African print comes in, to play roles, both as cover and style, while the transparent lace drapes the top of the bust, the legs and the arms, permitting limited view of the skins on those parts of the body.

How this blend of traditional African elements and modern design were neatly knit together shows a high level of craftsmanship and creativity.

This particular dress, and a number of others in the TIMELESS TREASURE collection, is consistent with the philosophy of this designer in dress making.

Uche believes that comfort is key in choosing dresses for any event, whether one is attending as a guest or host. She believes that events are meant to be enjoyed, not endured, and that “by choosing a dress that allows you to move freely and comfortably, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the experience without any distractions or discomfort holding you back.”

Uche therefore strives to design clothes that flatter the figures of her clients and highlight their best features and at the same time provide ease of movement. “This way,” she says, “you can exude elegance effortlessly without sacrificing comfort.”

However, her floor-length dress with back godet (a triangular piece of fabric inserted into the back) raises a vital question. One cannot but wonder how this floor-length design meets Uche’s principle of making dresses that do not impede the wearer’s comfort, although she insists that the godet allows for greater freedom of movement and a fuller hemline which enhances the dress’s flow and grace.

Within Nigeria’s fashion industry, Euchey Couture’s trail has been marked by strings of notable achievements that garnered it accolades. The brand’s creations have graced the red carpets of prestigious events, earning accolades from fashion critics and celebrities alike.

Its designs have also been worn by prominent figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry and political circles, further solidifying its status as a go-to luxury brand for discerning clientele.

Uche is from Anambra State in Nigeria. After her primary and secondary education (1993-2007) at All Saints Nursery & Primary School and St. Paul’s Academy High School Ekwulobia respectively, she attended the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu State, between 2008 and 2010 before proceeding to Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State for her Higher National Diploma.

She had her one year National Youth Service (2015-2016) at Government Day Secondary School, Ribadu, Adamawa State as a Home Economics teacher, a job description relevant to the career she later chose for herself.

Passion, indeed, is the fuel that powers success, as this young clothing artist has proven.