The piece that stopped a room. Now made for yours.
Worn once, to a defining occasion. Now made in four forms, in handwoven Akwete, beaded by hand in Nigeria.
A limited, numbered edition. Orders close 14 October, or sooner if the edition is taken. It will not be made again.
Reserve yours
Dressing well is its own form of conviction. This piece was made for a day that called for both.
Akwete cloth carries centuries of craft: hand loomed in small villages along the Niger, prized for its density and its geometry long before it reached a runway. We paired it with hand strung beadwork in the Nigerian tradition, made to be worn on the days that matter most.
The original piece, worn once, drew a response that made clear it belonged to more than one closet. Tavi and I returned to the table and reworked it, keeping the silhouette, the cloth and the beadwork, into two top lengths, paired with a skirt or a wide leg trouser, four forms in total, so it could be worn by more women well.
The Verdict is a closed edition, made once, by one atelier, for those who choose it now.
Igbego x Tavi Atelier
The pieces
The images below are digital renderings, made to show very closely what you will receive: the silhouette, fabric, fringe and construction. Because every strand is beaded by hand, the exact number of beads, the number of rows, and the bead colors at the collar and waist will vary slightly from what is pictured. No two pieces are identical, and that is part of owning something made by hand.
The Verdict Skirt Set, Pointed Waist
Handwoven Akwete top with a beaded collar and a pointed, bead-outlined hem, paired with a high-waisted midi skirt finished in fringe. Close at the waist, eased through the hip.
Sold outThe Verdict Skirt Set, Full Coverage
Handwoven Akwete top with a beaded collar, ending in a longer, straight hem, paired with a high-waisted midi skirt finished in fringe. Close at the waist, eased through the hip.
Sold outThe Verdict Pant Set, Pointed Waist
Handwoven Akwete top with a beaded collar and a pointed, bead-outlined hem, paired with a relaxed, wide leg trouser, floor length, finished in fringe at each ankle.
Sold outThe Verdict Pant Set, Full Coverage
Handwoven Akwete top with a beaded collar, ending in a longer, straight hem, paired with a relaxed, wide leg trouser, floor length, finished in fringe at each ankle.
Sold outBy reserving, you agree to the edition terms: final sale, size exchange only, and a woven motif that may vary. Every piece adjusts through side lacing and a back elastic waistband for a close fit. The images shown are digital renderings, made to closely match the actual fabric and design. The one detail that may vary from the image is the beadwork: the exact bead color, count and the number of rows at the neckline and waist are placed by hand, and may differ slightly from what is pictured. Every other detail, the silhouette, the fabric, the fringe and the construction, is made to match.
Made slowly, by hand, in one atelier
Adjustable, for longevity. A slim self-fabric lace at each side seam draws the bodice in by up to about an inch. The skirt and trousers sit flat at the front, with elastic across the back of the waistband only, so they move with you. Together, one size fits close through a season, a meal, a change in you.
Two tops, two silhouettes, four ways to wear. The same beaded pieces move between a skirt and a wide leg trouser, built for versatility rather than a single occasion.
Made to order, nothing overproduced. Your piece is woven only once you've reserved it. No dead stock, no leftover run, just this one closed edition, and nothing more.
The cloth is Akwete, handwoven in Nigeria on an upright loom, with a fine metallic thread through it. A supplementary weft technique lifts each motif slightly off the surface, giving the cloth real texture, not a flat print. Every collar and waist row is strung, stitched and knotted by hand at Tavi Atelier, then numbered by hand.
The top, the skirt and the pants
Each piece of The Verdict, made to order on its own, in Emerald, Onyx and Burgundy. The top is cut from the original: layered fringe across the chest and sleeves, a round beaded collar, and the beaded diamond at the waist. Same edition, same timing, same care.
The Verdict Top
Handwoven top with layered fringe across the chest and sleeves, a round beaded collar, and a beaded diamond at the waist, ending in a pointed hem.
Choose your color, size and torso at checkout. Laced at the side for a close fit.
Sold out
The Verdict Skirt
High-waisted midi skirt in handwoven Akwete, finished with a double tier of fringe and a band of the woven pattern between them.
Choose your color, size and length at checkout. Flat front, elastic across the back of the waistband.
Reserve the skirtShips 3 to 4 weeks after orders close
The Verdict Pants
Relaxed, wide leg trousers in handwoven Akwete, floor length in a 3 inch heel, finished with fringe at each ankle.
Choose your color, size and length at checkout. Flat front, elastic across the back of the waistband.
Reserve the pantsShips 3 to 4 weeks after orders closeFrom behind
A soft V opening at the back neckline, beaded along its edge, with a clean concealed zip below. On the Pointed Waist styles, the beaded hem wraps all the way around the back. Shown here in each colorway.
Size guide
Body measurements in inches. Measure the fullest part of the bust, the narrowest part of the waist, the fullest part of the hip, and the fullest part of one thigh, just below the crotch. Back neck to waist is explained under torso, below. Choose by your measurements, not your usual size, and take the size at or above your largest one. Between sizes, size up.
The skirt and trousers are cut with ease through the hip: the finished garment measures about three inches larger than your body measurement, so it drapes and moves rather than clinging. The waistband sits flat at the front, with elastic across the back only, so it moves with you and fits a range of waist sizes closely.
The bodice has no built in cups, so it suits many bust shapes. Wear it with your own bra or shapewear.
Every piece is made to adjust. A slim fabric lace at each side seam draws the bodice in, and elastic across the back of the waistband lets the skirt and trousers move with you, so a standard size fits a range of shapes closely. No custom order needed.
Your length (Petite, Regular or Tall) sets the skirt or trousers. Your torso sets the top, so the beaded waist sits exactly at your natural waist. Height does not decide torso length, so please measure it.
How to measure your back neck to waist, with a friend. This is measured along your back, down your spine, not down the front of your body.
1. Wear a fitted top and no belt. Stand straight, looking ahead.
2. Tie a string or ribbon around your natural waist: the narrowest part of your middle, where your body creases when you bend to the side, usually about an inch above your belly button.
3. Find the starting point at the back of your neck, not the front or throat: bow your head forward and feel for the bone that sticks out most at the base of the neck. Lift your head again, keeping a finger on that bone.
4. Measure straight down your spine, from that bone to the string at your waist. The tape stays on your back and does not pass over your bust. That number is your back neck to waist.
Then compare it with the Back neck to waist number for your size in the size chart above:
Example: you are a size 12, where the chart shows 16¾". Under 15¾", choose Short torso. From 15¾" to 17¾", choose Standard torso. Over 17¾", choose Long torso.
At checkout, you choose both together in one list called Length and torso. Find your row by height and your column by torso:
over 1" shorter than your size
within 1" of your size
over 1" longer than your size
Skirt 31", pants 43"
Skirt 34", pants 47"
Skirt 37", pants 51"
How the edition works
Reserve your style, color, size, length and torso, and pay in full. Orders are open 23 September to 14 October, or until the edition is taken. Once it is gone, it is gone.
Your piece is woven, cut and beaded after orders close. We will write to you at the midpoint of production.
Please allow 3 to 4 weeks from the close of orders for production and delivery. Pieces ship from Houston, tracked and insured, no later than 11 November 2026. US shipping is free. International shipping is a flat rate at checkout, and any import duties or taxes in your country are payable by you on arrival. Orders within Nigeria ship directly from Tavi Atelier in Abuja, at a lower flat rate, once your piece is complete.
Every piece is made to order, so all sales are final. There are no returns and no cancellations once an order is placed. An unworn piece may be exchanged for a different size within 7 days of delivery, while the edition lasts.
Our delivery guarantee. If your piece has not shipped by 11 November 2026, you may choose to wait or to receive a full refund. This is the one case in which a refund is offered.
Akwete is handwoven in small batches, so the motif on your piece may differ from the one pictured. The color you choose will always be the color you receive. Beadwork is strung by hand, so the exact bead color, count and number of rows may vary slightly from the images shown; the fabric, silhouette and construction are made to match.
Your information
What we collect. When you reserve a piece, we receive your name, email, phone number, billing and shipping address, and the style, color, size and length you chose. Payment is processed by Stripe. We never see or store your full card details.
How we use it. Only to make and deliver your order, send you updates about it, and answer your questions. If you join our list, we will also email you about future editions, and you can ask to be removed at any time. We do not sell your information, and we will not add you to marketing emails without your permission.
Who we share it with. Only those who help complete your order: Stripe for payment, our shipping carriers and customs broker for delivery, and Tavi Atelier for production and for orders shipped within Nigeria.
Your choices. You can ask to see, correct or delete the information we hold about you at any time by emailing theverdict.atelier@gmail.com. We keep order records only as long as needed for delivery, exchanges and our legal and tax obligations.
Shop The Verdict is operated by Ochanya O Artistry, Houston, Texas.
Questions
Still have a question? Email us at theverdict.atelier@gmail.com. We reply within two business days.
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