My Craft & I - Patricia Onumonu Of Trish O Couture

My name is Patricia Osita Onumonu but people love to call me Trish O. I started fashion designing at age 12 with my mum; I grew up watching my mum do this. She was into bead and blouse making. My mum loved working with beads and this inspired my love for blings. My mum was really into beading of clothes and she would sometimes send them abroad after beading. I’ve been doing this all my life; everyone in my family is into fashion one way or another. I was always assisting my mother even after I got into University of Lagos where I studied Philosophy. I was once a model working with a lot of Nigerian fashion designers. I also contested for the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria crown and Miss Nigeria too.

I got married at age 22 to my husband who has been of tremendous assistance; he gave me the opportunity to show the world what I can do. He assisted me with all I needed to grow the business which I started from our house. After a while, the house became too small for my customers who were increasing by the day so I moved to Murphis Plaza, Victoria Island, Lagos, and now our new complex still in Victoria Island.

I always feel excited and fulfilled when I see my designs on celebrities, and socialites such as Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Kate Henshaw, Ini Edo, Monalisa Chinda, Emem Isong, Waje and a host of others. Fashion means everything to me; it is a way of life. Style is what

people see when they look at you, it comes from within. The fact that a design is trending doesn’t necessarily mean it will suit everyone.

I love to work with blings because they make you noticeable and attractive. I love stones, diamonds, blings and all the good things of life. This surely sets me apart from other designers. I find it hard doing simple designs. I love working with Ankara because Nigerians can’t do without it. They don’t like it when they can’t find Ankara in a ready to wear shop.

I see fashion as the most difficult business in the world. A fashion designer has to be very patient and accommodating. Fashion is what I love and would want my daughter to go into. I want my daughter to take over from me in future. I’d love to be a fashion designer even in my next life.

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