OUR PROCESS
How thinking becomes tangible through arts & Craft and material innovation unique to Nsukka
At eliEls, analysis and intuition work together, positioning fashion as intellectually grounded, materially innovative, and culturally relevant. This forms the foundation of our making process.
The Process
1. Thesis & Representation
Every collection begins with a question, observation, or concept. A societal tension, a cultural pattern, or a human experience. This is the intellectual seed: the "left brain" at work, analyzing and observing.
I respond visually, sketching and testing forms, shapes, and textures that represent the idea in my mind. The sketches are not finished designs but a bridge between thought and material, where analysis and intuition meet on paper. This is where thinking becomes visible, where intellectual rigor interacts with creative exploration, laying the foundation for everything.
2. Material Development
Once the concept is clear, I ask: which materials will bring it to life? Here, analytical problem-solving and creative intuition converge. I explore my environment for elements that embody the qualities of the idea--like using ube seeds to represent the constraint of words in Post Adrenaline Blues.
My engineering background guides how I engage these materials: drilling through hard seeds without cracking them, stabilizing delicate textures, and imagining structural possibilities.
At the same time, creativity allows me to see beauty in what others consider waste, transforming discarded local materials into expressive, functional, and meaningful components. Material selection becomes a dialogue between intellect and artistry.
3. Hand-Painting
It’s is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Here the "right brain" is fully engaged: translating abstract ideas into color, pattern, and form. Giving visual expression to intangible ideas and concepts. Even as creativity dominates here, it is disciplined and structured.
What began as a side project in university has evolved into a signature practice, demonstrating that thoughtful craft can carry complex ideas through material and visual language.
4. Carving & Crafting
This is the soul of our work: where waste and discarded materials are transformed into deliberate, luxurious components through patient and skilled hands. Collaborating with JK Meoli, we hand-carve buttons, belts, and bags from discarded coconut shells and ube seeds.
This step requires patience, skill, and precision. The analytical mind calculates form, structure, and feasibility, while the creative mind considers rhythm, proportion, and aesthetic impact.
Even the smallest elements, like buttons often overlooked in fashion, are elevated through meticulous handcraft. Waste becomes luxury.
5. Construction & Finishing
Finally, all elements converge into the finished garment. Fabrics, prints, and handcrafted components are assembled not only for functionality but to carry conceptual weight.
Construction is deliberate: heavyweight fabrics convey tension or gravity, frayed hems reveal labor, and finishes highlight rather than conceal the making process.
This is how thought, material, and craft merge fully, producing garments that are both intellectually grounded and sensorially compelling.