By Rita Okoye

The youth-oriented experience created at Terra Kulture allowed Gazelle Street Clothings to present their Vibe Kontinental collection through Nigerian Gen Z fashion elements during their debut show. The 4th of November 2024 marked the launch of the collection which presented youthful energy through its entire range of clothing. The collection demonstrates Pelumi Oluwabori Fatunsin’s ability to tell stories through printed patterns and appliqués using basic fabrics.

The first item that catches attention is the pink-and-white two-piece outfit which consists of a magenta cropped top with a semi-sheer organza sleeve insert and a white mini skirt. The design follows POM principles by creating balanced proportions between the top’s chest width and neck drop and sleeve cap height and the skirt’s straight-line waist-to-hip ratio. The circular metallic belt ring functions as both a practical element and a visual stopper to secure the waistline. The collection uses lightweight to medium-weight cotton jersey for tops, which provides comfort, while chiffon/organza sleeves add fluidity to the design. The medium-weight cotton twill fabric used for the skirts provides structure which the top design intentionally lacks. The skirt drapes with firmness while maintaining a straight line because the fabric’s weight supports this design choice.
The brand’s streetwear essence emerges through the men’s outfit which combines pink shorts with a white graphic tee.

The elastic waistband of the shorts creates a noticeable gathered effect throughout their mid-thigh length. The cotton fabric creates a moderate drape that produces a casual bouncing effect when the model walks. The tulle overlay on the men’s tee extends from the shoulder seams to create an experimental design element. The design element serves as a symbolic representation.

Gazelle Street Clothings, as a brand, shows excellent manufacturing quality for its current stage of development because it continues to develop its production methods. This collection shows excellent craftsmanship because the stitches run evenly, the hems are neat, and the stress points receive proper reinforcement.

However, the tulle detail on the men’s tee reveals a manufacturing problem because designers need to use French seams or rolled hems to hide raw fabric edges when working with delicate materials. The visible stitching on this piece makes the design less sophisticated although it was a reasonable choice. The collection presents relaxed fits which match the carefree nature of streetwear fashion. The design focuses on comfort during movement because the garments provide unrestricted freedom of movement through their design. The design avoids complex tailoring and this seems to serve a specific purpose.

The collection will find its greatest appeal among urban youths, college students, creatives and street-style enthusiasts who prefer expressive, easy-to-wear everyday fashion. These garments possess excellent potential for mass-market capsule production because they offer affordable trendy designs that people can wear right away.

Through Vibe Kontinental, Pelumi demonstrates her role as a designer who creates street-inspired clothing with printed designs and colourful patterns.