By Amina Mirzaa, Fashion Correspondent for Manchester Times
In an exclusive conversation with rising fashion visionary Chikodinaka Chima, Founder and CEO of HNclothings, we explored the deeper meaning behind her latest creation, the Duchess Velvet Victorian Dress. More than just a statement piece, the design is a layered narrative of heritage, resistance, and craftsmanship.
“I wasn’t aiming for nostalgia; I was aiming to reinterpret heritage through a modern lens,” Chikodinaka told me early in our conversation.
The Creative Challenge: Respecting the Past, Speaking to the Present
Victorian fashion, with its towering silhouettes and coded symbolism, is often seen as a relic of another era. For Chikodinaka, however, it offered a canvas of creative tension.
“The rich black velvet was chosen for its depth and visual weight, but constructing it in a way that would flow rather than feel stiff required a reworking of traditional boning and draping techniques,” she explained. “The bodice needed architectural precision, while the skirt called for fluidity. That contrast really pushed me.”
Design Under Pressure: Navigating Budget and Craft Constraints
Without the backing of a fashion house or sponsorship, the Duchess Dress was a product of both vision and discipline. “Every piece of fabric was sourced intentionally. I had to be sustainable and practical, but also stay true to the couture aesthetic I was chasing. That meant late-night redesigns and a lot of trial and error,” Chikodinaka shared.
The result was a dress that married old-world elegance with contemporary relevance, stitched by hand and machine alike.
Cultural Commentary Through Fashion
HNclothings, Chikodinaka’s fashion brand, is more than a label-it’s a statement of purpose. The Duchess Dress, in particular, reclaims Victorian grandeur for a new generation.
“The Victorian silhouette is often seen as a symbol of European elitism. I wanted to challenge that. I wanted to ask: who gets to wear history? Who gets to reinvent it?”
Chikodinaka’s work speaks to diasporic narratives and to a fashion world that’s learning to be more inclusive, more global, and more daring.
Reception and Impact
The Duchess Dress has found its audience. Endorsed by fashion tastemakers like StylishNaija and widely shared across social platforms, its cultural resonance was immediate.
“People messaged me saying it reminded them of legacy, of fantasy, of identity. Some wanted custom versions. That told me this design meant something,” said Chikodinaka.
Far beyond a runway piece, the dress sparked conversations around fashion, race, and ownership of narrative.
Final Thoughts
The Duchess Dress, according to Chikodinaka, is not a peak but a beginning.
“This dress taught me a lot about who I am as a designer. It’s part of a much bigger mission-to tell stories through clothing that connect generations and speak across cultures. That’s what HNclothings is about.”
With designers like Chikodinaka Chima at the helm of emerging fashion, the future of couture might just look a lot more inclusive-and infinitely more inspired.
