By Rita Okoye

Sensational fashion and lead creative designer of Beautyplus Apparel , Blessing Eyo has again registered her borderless creativity with her recent dress design- MONI, a stunning 2-piece dress exuding sophistication and embodies innovative use of traditional blend and contemporary design.

MONI is not just another dress but a visual harmony of African elegance, comfort and versatility. The design features a carefully crafted long sleeves buttoned shirt made from genuine cotton fabric. On this shirt comes two chest pockets which capture excellent blend of utility and structural balance. Paired with a baggy high-waist trousers, made from bold African ankara prints; MONI stands out for its remarkable inventfulness as it showcases African’s influence on modern fashion, proving that the continent’s cultural expressions resonate globally. I cannot but notice the two patched pockets on the two sides of the pants which give the dress an overall look of balance and royalty flow in motion.

No doubts, this design is all shades of incredible artistry and craftsmanship which are characteristic of Eyo. However, it is noteworthy to highlight that while the structural design of the pants is admirable, it is excessively baggy and this puts a limit on MONI set to be more of a casual dress. It could had been designed as a regular pants or moderately baggy pants to make is appropriate for formal events as well.

To cap it all, this dress is an apparent index that with the fusion of African ankara prints with modern trend, a manipulation of styles that create timeless elegance can be birthed. Moreso, with the likes of African fashion fashion designers like Blessing Eyo who are consistent with the inclusion of African prints in their design, the African textile and fashion is capable of pivotal influence on the global fashion industry.