The Hibiscus Dress – A Story of Last-Minute Magic

What if I told you that up until the night before #ANEternalLoveStory, I had absolutely nothing to wear? Not a backup dress, not a rough idea—nothing. And yet, somehow, by the next morning, I walked into my best girl’s wedding in a dress that felt like it was made for the moment. Because, well… it was.

One of the greatest luxuries of being a designer isn’t just having an archive of pieces to pick from—it’s the ability to create something from nothing, to take what seems insignificant and make it extraordinary. That’s exactly how The Hibiscus Dress came to be.

I had spent all my time perfecting Neni’s looks for the big day, making sure every detail of her dream wedding wardrobe was flawless. My own outfit? It wasn’t even a thought. But that’s the thing about moments like this—they force creativity in the purest form. And sometimes, the most effortless ideas turn out to be the most beautiful.

The brown corset mini dress I originally dismissed suddenly became the foundation. It wasn’t snatched enough at first, but paired with the soft shimmer of my asoebi fabric, it transformed. But it was missing something—a focal point, a statement, a story.

Then, inspiration struck. A single, hand-beaded flower, placed just right, and the delicate root of a plant cascading across the dress, connecting it all together. Gardenia was the wedding theme, and without planning it, the dress embodied it completely—growth, beauty, and something unexpectedly breathtaking.

The finishing touches? A gele by the incredible @taiwos_touch, makeup that was simply lip gloss and microblading because there was no time for anything else, and the perfect pre-wedding chaos captured by @thisthingcalledfashion.

And then, when the moment felt right, I removed the asoebi fabric overlay, letting the Hibiscus Dress shine in all its delicate, hand-crafted beauty. A dress that didn’t exist 24 hours before was now making its own statement, flowing effortlessly as I danced the night away.

This is what I love about design—it’s not always about elaborate sketches and months of preparation. Sometimes, it’s about instinct. About knowing that with a needle, thread, and the right vision, magic can happen overnight.

For those who love a good GRWM, the full transformation is on Instagram—because if you didn’t document the chaos, did it even happen? Watch it unfold here.

And so, The Hibiscus Dress was born. A dress crafted in hours but made to last forever in memories. 💐✨