Would you spend ₦11 million on a dress?

Last month, a woman posted on X (formerly Twitter) about discovering a dress priced at ₦11 million, sparking a debate over the high costs of Nigerian fashion designers' creations, which often range from hundreds of thousands to millions of naira.  

The dress in question is from *House of Marvee*, a fashion label founded by Marvelous Olugu. It belongs to their SS24 collection and is called *“The Plait Dress.”* Priced at $6,967 (approximately ₦10,971,561), the dress is crafted from handwoven threads or fringes.  

While the sculpted silhouette and intricate detailing are undeniably stunning—and the handmade construction suggests significant labor—the price remains exorbitant for many.  

Interestingly, the brand’s website lists most of its pieces in dollars, despite the naira being Nigeria’s official currency for transactions.

The brand is based in Nigeria, with its headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos—so why are its outfits priced in dollars? This raises an important question about its pricing strategy.  

Another point of discussion is the intended clientele. Given that this dress costs more than some luxury pieces from international designers like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, and Versace, it’s clear that ordinary Nigerians are not the target market.

Any outfit priced above $1,000 is undeniably high-end, regardless of one's financial standing—meaning even for affluent non-Nigerians, *The Plait Dress* remains a steep investment.  

This exorbitant price tag also fuels the common perception that Nigerian designers inflate their prices beyond reasonable limits.

Of course, we must acknowledge the overhead costs—rent, fabrics, dyes, tailors' wages, and other operational expenses. No one expects designers to sell their creations for mere pennies (or kobos, in our context). Yet, it’s hard to justify such an astronomical price tag. What truly warrants a cost this excessive?