By Yemisi Suleiman

Your identity not only classifies you; it also defines your personality. The way you walk, talk, your association, and visual composition are a part of your identity.

This article focuses on the celebration of identity through fashion creativity, using a fashion brand that has contributed to the visual display of personality.

There was a time when fashion only revealed the background identity of people. You could have your gaze on someone and tell where they come from.

The Akan people, which comprises the Ashanti, Fanti, Akuapem, etc., wear a traditional outfit called Kente cloth; a handwoven fabric that was made of stripes sewn together. Ewe is also another tribe in Ghana, and they are easily recognised by their clothing, which is also similar to the Kente worn by the Akans, except that it features figurative designs of animals, people, objects and patterns. These are just to mention a few Ghanaian tribes and how their clothing reflects their identity.

During these ancient times, fashion defined the identities of people based on their background, but in the present day, people have the opportunity to explore and create their distinctiveness. Fashion has evolved to a point where people can step out beyond their background specifications to create a style that directly resonates with their personalities. This is largely attributed to innovative fashion designers.

You can call this stage the Dream Age.
Several fashion designer brands across Africa, especially Ghana are used to crafting clothes that are specifically requested by customers, and tailor them perfectly to their taste. OpulenCe design, on the other hand, has an eye for society, so they make clothes that people can easily relate to.

OpulenCe fashion brand is a clothing hub, where fashion blends seamlessly with cultural storytelling. They are positioned as a custodian of Africa’s rich heritage, and each piece reflect the narratives of Africa’s different cultures, which capture the beauty of tradition while still embracing modern innovation.

This eponymous brand is located in Ghana and was founded in 2020 by visionary designer, Patience Oduro. OpulenCe is about storytelling, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. Patience started her fashion journey from childhood, inspired by her mother’s clothing craft and the deep desire to redefine the fashion industry. She sees her brand as a platform to amplify voices, reclaim narratives and effect social change.

Through her designs and the weaving of threads, she hopes to build resilience and pride, transform fabric poetically, and revolutionise tradition.

This 2022 Opulent Collection shows just how OpulenCe uses beautiful garments to display a range of identities that would relate respectively to people.

This is an elegant outfit from the collection. This outfit will capture the attention of the younger generation who are about the glitz and glamour. For this two-piece outfit, the blouse is porous like a net, making it a highly revealing garment. It has a fitted round neck, which blends well with the silhouette. The dress is fitted at the shoulders and the hem and should flatter a slim body. It follows the natural lines of the body, but not too tight, restricting movement, but skims the body smoothly.

However, the top may have looked better with additional linen a little above the chest to appeal to different audiences and boost sales, because not every woman is comfortable attending a function with a transparent blouse.
Also, the blouse has no floral prints, embroidery or lace details, so it may seem uninteresting to people who enjoy additional beautiful details.

But of course, the skirt could be compensation for what is lacking in the top. The skirt is adorned with reflective materials, in a way that is harmonious, authentic and well-placed, without looking cheap or excessive.
The blouse has a pair of long sleeves, which are fitting and follow the natural shape of the arm. They add some interest and balance perfectly with the shoulders. The neckline looks balanced with the overall length and style of the dress. The skirt flows above the knee, which makes it a little disproportionate to the fitting bodice.

The outfit may not be acceptable at religious gatherings, but it will resonate with exclusive entertainment or fashion shows. One thing that stood out: the glittering silver skirt.

This is another beautiful and elegant outfit from the Collection. It is a one-piece sheath garment. Close-fitted, follows the natural lines of the body, and accentuates a woman’s curves beautifully. It isn’t too tight in a way that could restrict movement and it skims the body smoothly. The length of the dress, which falls to the knee, is appropriate for what the outfit was made for.
It has a plain raven-black colour, which is also befitting for the dress. It is suitable for diverse occasion on a budget, like a religious gathering, exclusive fashion or entertainment shows, high-profile parties and office dinners, but may not be suitable for an official meeting.
It is an armless gown, which is suited for the dress. The lower hem is narrower than usual. Generally, this dress will flatter a slim person with a good shape.

Though subjective, the dress seems to have a positive impact, visually. It has a well-chosen colour that complements the skin of an African. The colour is flattering to the occasion it has been made for, and it suits the style. There seems to be a wave-like style running along the dress. This is a unique detail that was well executed by the designers and properly sewn into the design. But you can easily notice that the dress needs more. There should be well-designed and positioned floral patterns or embellishments around the bodice, bearing colours that naturally relate to the raven black.

Many gowns like this flow to the knee, but the special wave style gives this dress a unique vibe and originality. This is the kind of garment that compels authority and confidence. It exudes courage, an executive personality, and ebullient mood.
The back view is slightly revealing at the upper part and has a V-shape. But a total backless outfit would have suited this dress better, since it’s obvious that the designer’s motive is to create a garment for people who love to look appealing.

The dress seems to have some slight lining within it that provides structure, prevents transparency, and improves comfort. It feels like the lining may have extended properly to the hem, and since the outer fabric is not distorted, it means the lining is well-fitted and doesn’t interfere with the drape of the main fabric.

The finish details, such as the hems, neckline and armholes, add some polish to the look. Though the material enclosed around the neck area may seem too much to most people. It doesn’t seem to be needed. The dress exudes attraction, so the cleavage should have been made broader. The hem is evenly and neatly stitched. The armholes aren’t too tight to restrict movement. But the overflowing of the hem seems awkward and is not in harmony with the armless style.

The fabric flows and responds properly to movement. It doesn’t seem to be stiff but drapes well in the silhouette, and it complements the design. The movement of the fabric improves the overall look.

Here is another dress. It is similar to the initial dress, except for the overflow at the feet. It raven black colour is the perfect choice for this particular style as it makes it domineering. It is long, overflowing at the feet, making it more appropriate to wear for a luxurious corporate dinner party. You can tell this fit was made for fun events, parties, exclusive fashion, or entertainment occasions. It is fitted at the shoulders and gradually widens out to the hem.

This dress will resonate with elites because it communicates affluence. It will also relate to ladies who love attention at a function and people who love to flaunt their style in the presence of admiring eyes peering at them with interest.

The 2022 Opulent Collection is an interesting gathering of beautiful garments. These dresses express the identity of the modern-day woman and will relate well with women who love to be admired.