Oftentimes, people think fashion is just about following trends, especially when it comes to women’s wear. Some say it’s just a dress, or something to cover the body. But a simple fabric in the hands of a true designer can become a masterpiece, and that’s what happens when fashion meets Qadir & Co.
The brand, founded in 2019 by Abdul-Qadir A. Abdul-Razaq of Qadir & Co., sees every dress as an opportunity to showcase its expertise.
If you ever wanted to wear something that feels alive, feed your eyes with their 2023 collection.
The first dress from this collection is nothing short of stunning. At first glance, every part of this dress catches attention. It is simple, yet superb. It says something about the African woman, bold and beautiful.
From the choice of colour to the fabric and how the entire dress is shaped, this piece shows good taste and thoughtful design. It is made from a rich blue fabric, printed all over with a white penguin shape. The mix of colours is soft and sharp, giving the dress a lively, balanced look.
From the top, the upper part is designed like a jacket. It has a neat V-collar shape that shows the model’s beautiful face. The firm shoulder is shaped like a suit, which gives it a smart and official look, similar to office wear. The long sleeves are well-fitted down to the wrist, giving it a confident look and pride.
One detail that stands out on this is the double V-shape at the edge of the jacket. The design brings a modern feeling to the dress, making it look less stiff and more fun. Even though it is designed for a formal setting, this detail brings a soft vibe that balances the look nicely.
Now to the skirt. The skirt is the part that makes the strongest impression. It flows straight down to the feet, fully covering the model’s shoes. Made from the same blue-and-white penguin fabric, the skirt continued from where the top stops, keeping the entire look clean and well-connected to the top.
It fits the model well, helping to show the natural shape without being too tight or revealing any part of the body. Another standout feature of the skirt is its versatility. It can be easily paired with a plain top for a casual outing, making it a flexible and helpful choice. It gives that “boss lady” energy without doing too much.
But of course, no design is perfect. While the top is carefully made, it appears a bit too tight, especially for some formal settings. If worn for long hours, like during a meeting, the tightness may cause discomfort to the wearer, which is a completely wrong signal. A little space or allowance in the upper body could be added to help the wearer breathe easier and feel more relaxed while working.
As for the skirt, though it is beautiful, it might be too plain for a designer collection. A slight extra touch, like a design around the waist, or something special just at the hem, could help elevate the look and make it even more classic. It doesn’t need too much to show its class, just a little touch to give the skirt more meaning.
Styling could be another thing that could help. The dress, on its own, is beautiful, but adding simple accessories, like a necklace or earrings, could make it look complete and more classic.
Overall, this dress is a masterpiece, and it has the potential to make way into the fashion market. It has the quality, but it speaks quietly. You can tell that Qadir & Co. put serious effort into every part of the dress, from fabric choice to fit; the dress shows care and true creativity.
Now, let’s see what the second dress has to say. Will it surprise us even more?
The second dress is one of those pieces that doesn’t shout, yet it still commands all the attention in the room. This dress is a soft one that speaks to the heart of a modern African woman who knows her worth. It is classic, but not old. It is elegant, but not loud. It stands tall without forcing itself to be seen.
It begins with a black top that looks like lace but carries more weight than the regular soft lace we are used to. The material has texture, like something you want to touch just to understand it.
Just like the first dress, the top here is also long-sleeved and fitted, hugging the arms and the wrist. There’s an open-shoulder design that gives it a gentle tease of skin, not too loud, but simple enough to remind you that the woman wearing it is in control.
The first special effect on this dress is the way it holds the model without being stiff or too serious. It doesn’t fold or wrinkle easily. It stays neat while giving room for the arms to move. Tucked perfectly into the skirt, it keeps the eyes drawn to the centre of the dress where all the drama begins. The black top allows the lower part of the dress to shine, but it doesn’t disappear either.
The dress plays its part simply and does it so well. The skirt begins at the waist, holding the body gently. You can see how it brings out the wearer’s natural figure. It is not too tight, but something simple enough to define how her figure looks.
From the waist, the skirt begins to widen in a way that feels natural. Another design is the fabric gathers at the centre, which forms small pleats that look like the folds of a gele. It gives a perfect definition of beauty and culture.
From the gathers at the centre, the skirt continues to flow down, opening more and more as it reaches the ground, covering the model’s heels. It goes wide but not wild. It flows with grace, brushing the floor and covering the model’s heels completely. The bottom part of the dress does not rush. It takes its time but leaves a memory.
The fabric of the skirt is another thing to pay attention to. It looks like gold, not the shiny gold, but something warm, soft, and royal. The texture has a slight shimmer that catches light when the model moves. It gives that feel of old royalty meeting modern style.
It is a dress made for a ceremony or an important occasion. The way it matches with the black top is another win. The two colours balance each other without trying too hard. It is like a conversation between bold and soft, old and new, calm and strength.
It also helps that the dress fits the model’s skin tone perfectly. The gold adds warmth, and the black adds depth. Together, they do not clash but complete each other. You can see how the dress hugs the body without forcing it, leaving space to move and breathe, unlike the previous dress.
However, no dress is without correction. One thing that stands out is the simplicity of the black top. Even though it is well designed, it might look too plain when placed beside the busy skirt. A small touch of the gold fabric, maybe on the sleeve, or around the neckline, could help pull the dress together.
Also, since the neck and shoulders are slightly open, a bold earring could bring balance. Something round or gold would lift the face and add that final touch of finish. A hand band, simple but strong, could also do the job. It would not only dress the arm but also help pull the eye across the outfit in a smooth way.
Qadir & Co., once again, shows that fashion can be thoughtful without being boring.
The final dress in the 2023 collection of Qadir & Co. is not trying to impress too quickly, but the more you look, the more you begin to see how carefully this gown was put together. It carries a quiet kind of beauty that shows.
The gown is long, reaching the floor. But what makes it interesting is how the shape changes from top to bottom. The first thing you notice is the one sleeve. The other arm is open, looking like a modern, feminine vibe. The one sleeve it does have stops just at the elbow, and it’s not plain; it gathers around the joint in a way that adds a playful softness to the serious look of the fabric. That little bunching at the elbow adds something almost unexpected, like a twist in a calm story.
The material used here is a thick blue fabric, covered in straight white lines. The lines run across the dress like a school uniform, but not in a boring way. Instead, it brings a kind of order to the design. It gives the dress a structure, as if it’s intentionally neat. The thickness of the fabric helps it hold shape. It does not fold easily, and it carries a bit of weight, which allows the gown to sit well on the body without flying up or looking cheap.
Around the neckline, there’s a very smart detail. The neck is neither completely open nor too high; it remains halfway. What makes it special is the thick, folded fabric placed around the collar area. It’s not a patch, but a roll made with the same material, just folded in layers. This folded layer adds depth to the dress and frames the neck in a neat, rich way. It looks like the kind of finish that came from long hours of thought.
The gown is fitted to the waist, showing the natural shape of the model. Then, right from the waist, the dress changes. Gathers appear, not soft gathers, but ones that slightly pull the fabric up. It’s as if the gown wants to touch the floor, but at the last second, it changes its mind. This pulling up stops the dress from being too long, which is a smart move because the material looks like it would easily get dirty if allowed to drag. The gathers do not just protect the fabric, they add texture, a kind of raised effect that breaks the plain flow.
As the dress goes down towards the knee, something new happens again. Another set of gather forms, but these are different. They are fuller, wider, and they spread out like feathers. It’s not actual feathers, but the shape and softness give that feel. This bottom part widens the gown just before it touches the feet, adding movement and a soft flare that completes the dress with a graceful finish. When the model walks, you can imagine this part dancing a little with each step.
Still, while the gown gets many things right, there is room for improvement. The one-handed design, though it’s stylish, may not work for women because the look may feel incomplete. Maybe adding a soft fold on the sleeveless side would balance it out without changing how the design looks.
One more thing that could lift this look is accessories. The thick neck area allows for a small, bold earring that’s not too shiny, just enough to add a touch of light to the face. A slim bracelet on the open arm would also help complete the style. These are little things, but they could add a gentle sparkle to the gown’s calm beauty.
In all, these dresses from the 2023 collections are a quiet masterpiece. They’re not trying too hard to be seen, but they say a lot. It plays with shape, space, and balance in a way that shows care and intention. Qadir & Co. ends this collection on a calm but steady note. And sometimes, calm is exactly what fashion needs. July 1st 2023
