Unless you were a prince or his significant other, in the olden days, nobody was allowed to turn up for ordinary outings wearing a dress draped with lion heads all over it. Even if a tailor decided to produce a long-sleeve kaftan, alternatively, let the sleeve reach slightly up to the elbow.

It would still be a mismatch if the gathering was not a fez hat-littered party to honour a title holder or the new search for the husband on the day of a wedding. It all points to a matter of timing and the depiction of the leading class when the guest rocks Isi Agu to a designated gig, and this is why that is.

A fashion designer finally has a set of apparel separated after several slices were cut off from up to four yards of Isi Agu clothing, yet it goes beyond right-fitting measurements and styling when examining its symbol for denoting chieftaincy. The collage of lion heads across the entire surface of a dress looks like an artwork, and in its multiplicity is the theme of survivability or resilience when the back is literally facing the wall.

Lions usually portray these characteristics and Igbo southeasterners believe their tribe to have such ingredients. This is why Isi Agu is quite a hit. And with that symbolism comes the tenderness of the woman coming into the scene.

Isi Agu used to be exclusively men’s fashion until the womenfolk took an interest. Then, a renaissance started – it had to. The radiance of a white wedding gown’s majestic view from a church’s pew to the chancel seems obsolete because millennial brides have been opting for Isi Agu-inspired iterations.

Without stylists and designers, there would have been no one available to redirect the exclusiveness that men and Isi Agu appeared to be having. The vast young-hearted new breeds of fashion entrepreneurs are the ones driving the generality that the apparel has transitioned into. It is the reason a cross-gender fusion has been visualised when analysing Isi Agu’s newly-found massive reach.

The clothing brand, Asandrea Fashion has been making contributions that aid the new interpretation around Isi Agu. Managing Director Tochukwu Michael Tochukwu has been reimagining designs both for women and men.

And the new iterations come with advice on the best way to match. For women, it is to avoid wearing footwear or heels that take away the elegance of the lioness who is struggling to complete a simple walk. If in doubt of the essence of the Isi Agu, here is Mr. Tochukwu in an interview making things clear.

“We are kings and queens of the jungle all over the world. As it is well known, the lion is (the king) of the jungle. Isi Agu is a special fabric for Ndi Igbo because it defines who we are,” he said.

The men already have their basic Isi Agu outing kit. It pictures them wearing beads and a hat to complete the match. But in the women’s section, it feels like things are evolving. With the new designs of Isi Agu coming into the scene, shunning heels could be a shabby tip if taken.

Women’s fashion brands are springing into a newer ideation box where other approaches have been discovered. The apparel comes in different colours although there are fakes. A shopper must watch out.

Getting an adulterated version will not let out the beauty of wearing the prestigious Isi Agu. Fashion house Flaws Couture, which mainly caters to plus-size beauties, has the authentic varieties that an audience would like. According to the fashion brand’s website, designs can come in up to five colours, such as blue, red, white, green and black. It is for visual aesthetics.

Where sourcing should lead to is an extremely glamorous outfit made for you, the woman.

Over at Kaybees Fashion Styles, there is a reimagining also going on. Although they only recently joined the Renaissance, female audiences have been served Isi Agu in the form of long gowns, and short ones, like the ones created by the brand. But these are mostly for formal outings. With a blouse spread over maybe a woman’s jeans, for instance, comes a clicking sound because a new match has been found.

It is a vast array of stylish ways to wear Isi Agu and for the moment, the womenfolk are the main curators, having seen men hang on to exclusivity for too long.