Lady Trish Onumonu—widely celebrated as Trish O—is far more than a fashion entrepreneur; she is a visionary whose name has become synonymous with the apex of Nigerian luxury. As the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director of the Trish ‘O’ Couture Group, she has spent the last eighteen years meticulously sculpting a brand that balances feminine allure with the storied heritage of African elegance. Her journey is one of precocious talent, having mastered the delicate arts of tailoring and beadwork by age twelve.
Today, that foundation has expanded into a sprawling lifestyle empire, ranging from bespoke interiors to her newest and most radiant endeavor: Lady Trish Diamonds. In this interview with Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha, Trish O reflects on the “refiner’s fire” of the past two decades and the intentional, luminous path she is now carving in the world of fine gemstones.
What was the primary inspiration behind the decision to launch “Lady Trish Diamonds” now, after 18 years in couture?
The idea mainly is to diversify into another part of the luxury business that we are already well involved in. We already make clothes, high-end luxury apparels for the discerning, the very stylish & those with class & distinction, so why not offer a complimentary service too, which is jewellery, but this time around high end gems.
I have had the idea for a long time. We (myself & my late sister of blessed memory) were to collaborate, but then COVID-19 came & interrupted the plans, and then she also passed on. So we postponed it. But we are here now and for good too. Lady Trish Diamonds is a beloved passion & an extension of what we are already doing with Trish O Couture; offering the best to the best of people.
How do the Lady Trish Diamonds pieces compliment or integrate with the design philosophy of Trish O Couture?
I have already said it above. Our in-house theme at Trish O is Quality without Compromise. Trish O Couture is about high end, luxury apparels, those who wear such are the very classy, sumptuously elegant ladies who know the deal already & have an appreciation for gems. They are highly discerning, well-travelled fashionistas who have a real appreciation for quality gems (diamonds), so the two work in tandem without any issue. The fashion brand compliments the gem brand effortlessly. It’s like decorating an already beautiful Xmas tree with the right adornments.
The announcement mentions “luminous new beginnings.” How does this diamond line represent the next chapter for the Trish O brand?
Luminous firstly here describes a well-lit new path. So in the 1st instance are not walking into this path blind or blindfolded. It’s with intention. The same upscale services we offer with the clothing brand are what we are bringing into this new business too. Then it is also describing the type of jewellery business we are now into which is speaking about gemstones; stones of light like some describe it.
We know that those who wear gems don’t play. They don’t joke around. They want value for their hard earned money.
So we are offering quality without any form of compromise. High level gems that are well crafted into awesome jewellery pieces which would in turn look good on anyone wearing them, elevating their looks to the highest level possible. We would go around the world to get the best only for the discerning. So we take the stress off them. They come and we showcase to them quality from across the globe.
How will you maintain the same level of luxury, craftsmanship, and exclusivity that Trish O Couture is known for in the fine jewellery space?
We would maintain it without any stress whatsoever. Class & non compromise are already in our DNA. Remember I already spoke about Quality without compromise before.
We have already made our mark in the market for no compromise which already speaks for us well. So it’s 2nd nature to us. We don’t even stress it. We wouldn’t do anything that’s not on the level we are already known for. Most buyers of diamonds or quality gems are discerning. So they know the real McCoy when they come across it. So we wouldn’t cheapen ourselves by letting anyone down!
What does reaching this 18-year milestone mean to you and the Trish O Couture team?
It means the world to us. To me 18 years isn’t a joke at all. A child of 18 is already an adult in most parts of the world. We have gone through many experiences and have come out well. We are a part of the veteran circle in the industry. We have paid our dues. We have learnt by experience. We are grateful. It hasn’t been easy on any count, but we have gone through the ups & downs and have emerged on the other side like fine gold that went through the refiners’ fire. But we are not resting on our oars. But we are improving so as to further meet the future challenges that would still come. It’s been 18 years of grace, of becoming.
The theme is ‘Classics Across All Seasons,’ What is the central message or design concept behind this specific collection?
After 18 years of doing this thing and fine tuning it along the way, getting better & better at it and coming out with collections after collections, there were standout classics that have become evergreen that we have reimagined to more contemporary pieces. It’s like showcasing a line of the best of all seasons as one. From then to now, making it all look cohesive, having a storyline, from a beginning like starting at the kindergarten level and then getting to a master’s level with distinction.
With over 60 exquisite designs to be showcased, are there any signature styles or new techniques in this collection that you are particularly excited for the audience to see?
Every piece in the collection is a masterpiece. There’s none that doesn’t standout. We did so many that we then have to start pruning accordingly, so as to be able to tell an effective story of evolution from start to finish. It’s like the story that begins at the egg level then to the next then to the next till the adult stage. What emerged finally in adult form was already in the egg level, though you didn’t see that at that stage.
Looking back over 18 years, what is the most significant evolution you’ve seen in the Trish O Couture aesthetic?
We have improved on finesse. Our finishing is far better now, much tighter. We can rival any in terms of what we make. The newbie or neophyte of years back has become a master of the game now with loads of swagger added to it.
We thank God for our evolution as we haven’t also forgotten our days of small beginnings too.
