A few weeks ago, a Mail Bombs search led me to the website of Iconic Invanity, a Nigerian based label of colorful cocktails, gowns, and suit sets:
With a focus on African prints with a Western sensibility, the brand prides itself on luxurious fabrics, intricate details, and beaded embellishments.
Their Spring 2013 show, titled ‘Luxury Sweet Candy’ features eye popping frocks, uplifted by sequins and swinging hems.
Take a gander at a few pieces on the runway here:
Prices start at $3,500-$4,500 for a dress, plus an average of $450 for shipping. Quite a splurge.
I’m in love.
What do you think?
See more at IconicInvanity.com
March 6, 2013 11:57 am
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.
The colors, prints, everything! Nice find
March 6, 2013 12:06 pm
some nice peices, but $450 to start? I don’t know anything about the line, but I’d hesitate paying that for an unknown label. It’s like, why would someone buy a Hyundai Equus for $60k when they can buy a 6 or M3 BMW? But to each her own.
March 6, 2013 12:08 pm
LOVE it!
March 6, 2013 12:14 pm
I love every piece…
March 6, 2013 12:22 pm
The beaded outfits remind me of Virgos Lounge clothing, and they are much more affordable
March 6, 2013 12:40 pm
@KBS
Every time I hear an advertisement for that Hyundai, I throw up in my mouth a little.
I agree with much of what you said
March 6, 2013 12:55 pm
@K and iQgraphics maybe you would just buy a piece because you could afford the piece as well as liking it!
With all the detail that has obviously gone into each piece and the fact that it is made to measure- I believe it’s worth ten times more than the designer duds you will buy that has no real detail or quality to it and that has been made in mass quantities.
March 6, 2013 12:57 pm
@ jrDesignerLover
thanks for that link! I love it
March 6, 2013 1:00 pm
@A
BMW vs Hyundai… hmmm
March 6, 2013 1:16 pm
Lmao @iQgraphics, just a little, huh?
@A, I hear ya mama, I’m not knocking the line, I’m not knocking Hyundai, but it’s just an analogy / opinion. I like 9West shoes and I can afford them, but they are garbage (now I am knocking), so I don’t buy them anymore. I’ve bought expensive things that I didn’t know much about and it wasn’t worth it. That tis all. Carry on.
March 6, 2013 1:27 pm
You have got to be kidding me. I know this is a business and businesses are started so that money can be made but come on!!! If you get a tailor and get Ankara fabric or any ethnic fabric from Nigeria (like I do) or other African country, you could have these sewn for you for less than $100 total. I’m all for entrepreneurship, but this is ridiculous. I have a few of these in my closet right now, sheesh!!
March 6, 2013 1:47 pm
I am too old and awnry to explain what an analogy is.
March 6, 2013 2:13 pm
Beautiful!
March 6, 2013 2:22 pm
$3500-4500?? or do you mean in Naira ?? because that is dramatically expensive lolll, nonetheless, the line is BEAUTIFUL !!
March 6, 2013 2:37 pm
Once I saw the dress lining in the second pic, I knew it had to be costly :lol: Great styling.
This may be sacrilege but does anyone know tailors who can recut/restyle traditional West African textile/fabric? I have so many Ghanaian dresses in lovely prints but they’re boxed-shaped. Would love to do something fab with them.
March 6, 2013 3:23 pm
Prices start at $3,500-$4,500 for a dress, plus an average of $450 for shipping. Quite a splurge.
Are they shipping from space $450.
March 6, 2013 3:24 pm
Prices start at $3,500-$4,500 for a dress, plus an average of $450 for shipping. Quite a splurge.
$450 are they shipping from space?
March 6, 2013 3:59 pm
I love the line! but not for those prices.
March 6, 2013 4:29 pm
I was oooohhing and ahhhing until I got to the price tag and said awwww :(.
March 6, 2013 6:27 pm
Absolutely beautiful line!!! Love the intricate bead work
March 6, 2013 6:55 pm
@A I completely agree, I’d much rather have a made to measure dress with intricate beading than spend the same price on a big name designer who’s pieces are mass produced these days! And I’m assuming the shipping is from Nigeria to U.S.??? If so it makes sense why its so expensive then. Either way in LOVEEEEEE with this line.
March 6, 2013 7:51 pm
I am soooo over African prints but some of this stuff is beautiful. The prices are ridic though… I mean come on
March 6, 2013 9:13 pm
Boring, predictable and over priced…..Go to the market, buy the fabric and make your own for way cheaper!
March 7, 2013 3:40 am
I’m in love with iconic invanity even though i know i cant afford them. I have seen all the designs up close and they are amazing..
its not just ankara, its the hand beading that goes into it that makes it so unique.
like the first dress, the entire front is covered with beads, all the flower patterns and all. That’s how most of her dresses are . So those of u saying your tailors can sew it , think again. Not sure how many tailors will even agree to cover your dress with lovely beads and create really nice designs with it . If they agree, you know they’ll charge you heavily.
March 7, 2013 5:31 pm
@d.d. Exactly! I don’t know any tailors who will do the amount of intricate bead work that goes into these dresses, the amount of time it takes to sew the beads alone is enough to make them so expensive! One day I’ll save up to purchase one of their beautiful dresses :)
March 7, 2013 8:12 pm
I get beading and quality but there are only two looks I even like..next
March 7, 2013 8:28 pm
I think the real question here is ” how much do they pay their workers that do all the intricate beading?” i bet you not enough the warrant these prices.
April 5, 2013 4:50 pm
A closer look reveals that much of the beading and embroidery was done by hand…not to mention the actual fitting and styling of the dress. This may be an indie label but what most people don’t realize is that making clothes is hard work…Especially detail work of this quality and calibur. This is art, basically a wearable collector’s item.
It’s not uncommon to see artists charging several thousands of dollars for an oil painting…so why, when there has clearly been so much love and artistry poured into these designs, would people say that it’s “too expensive” and that they would only pay big money for a “known label?”
Its true, you could get a cheaper knock off imported from china…but in some cases they pay the laborers 2 cents a day—basically slave labor.