Fashion Bliss: Exclusive Interview with The Creative Director - ‘House of Nwocha’ (Ugonna Omeruo)

House of Nwocha is not new in the Nigerian Fashion Industry scene and has been making a buzz and setting the pace.
Their designs ranges from different exceptional styles, which can be described as elegant, youthful and sexy in their distinctive categories. I had a privilege of catching up with the CEO and creative director of HON, Miss Ugonna Omeruo.

Funmi Shittu: I grew up with a fashion sense because my mum owned and still owns a fashion boutique in Nigeria. In fact she owns one of the most popular boutique in Benin-City Nigeria.

Apparently, fashion is evolving now, if we look back in the days if you sew clothes you are known as a tailor but now the game has changed, a tailor is now a fashion designer and of cause you are ostensibly changing the game in Nigeria and House of Nwocha is increasingly gaining grounds and I am so proud of you!

Ugonna Omeruo: Thank you very much Funmi for the opportunity to chat with you, let me start by correcting the notion that a tailor and a designer are the same.... Not at all, the two jobs are completely different. Some designers can also sew while a lot of designers cannot sew at all.

Funmi Shittu: That is very true, also your designs are lovely and very professional, are you self-taught or did you study fashion?

Ugonna Omeruo: Like you too, my mum also had a tailoring business where she had tailors from Ghana and Coutonu so after school I was always in the shop with the tailors and that's how I picked up interest in fashion. I was about 10 years old.

Funmi Shittu: Wow, quite a young age. So what made you take fashion more serious and decided this is the career you want for yourself?

Ugonna Omeruo: At a point my mum decided to close the business so I asked her to sell me her machines and equipment and that's how I took it over from her.

Funmi Shittu: Knowing how challenging it is to keep up with the fashion trend,  how do you stay up to date with today’s fashion?

Ugonna Omeruo: Fashion is constantly changing. We always look inwards for creativity and we are constantly searching for new inspiration.

Funmi Shittu: How has your work evolved since you owned your own label (House of Nwocha)?

Ugonna Omeruo: The passion I have for fashion keeps me going. It's very important that in evolution and growth one does not lose their essence. Fashion is an international thing so one has to be up to date with what's happening internationally. 

Funmi Shittu:  Do pieces from outside Nigeria influence your work professionally? 

Ugonna Omeruo: Definitely, sometimes you see something and your like oh wow, why didn't I come up with that. 

Funmi Shittu: What is your motto and what or who inspires Ugonna?

Ugonna Omeruo: Part of our aesthetics is to use a lot of colour in our creations because we believe colour is the spice of life. Also colourful things inspire me.

Funmi Shittu: Very true, I see that in you a lot. Are your pieces more appealing to slimmer people or do your designs welcome all sizes?

Ugonna Omeruo: House of Nwocha caters to all women.

Funmi Shittu: Wonderful, excitingly House of Nwocha is now one of the biggest fashion brands in Nigeria and clearly the best is yet to come for you. So what are your advice to young designers out there coming up? 

Ugonna Omeruo: I'll advice anyone wanting to be in the fashion business to be prepared mentally and physically because it's very tasking.

Funmi Shittu: Have you got any new projects coming up that we can look out for?

Ugonna Omeruo: We are working on an upcoming project that will blow people's minds. We are always about the next level, and this new project is it. Unfortunately I can’t speak about it, but it's coming really soon.

Funmi Shittu: Wow I cannot wait for that, I also believe you have a great team behind you, how important is this in the fashion industry? 

Ugonna Omeruo: it's one of the most important parts of the business and any businesses for that matter. Your team is absolutely important because they are the first people who you explain any concept to and you have to have people that are honest and believe in the brand and want the best for the brand as well.

Funmi Shittu: WOW! Thank you for chatting to us today and I look forward to your upcoming projects. Also I absolutely love your designs.

Ugonna Omeruo: Thank you for having us, your blog is amazing!

House of Nwocha has been nominated for Fashion Designer of the year at the 2014 

ELOY awards (exquisite Lady of the year award) Please vote here exquisitemag.com/eloyawards2014/ 

You can also vote by sms too "Text ELOY followed by House of Nwocha" to 35070 or email "Hse of Nwocha" to eloy@exquisitemag.com.

Find House of Nwocha on

Instagram: HOUSEOFNWOCHA and Ugonna Omeruo

Website: www.hseofnwocha.com

Funmi Shittu’s blog searches young, old and fastest growing and motivating personalities that we believe can change the course of time, art and vision. People that will set the pace and are changing the standards. We believe inspiring people can change a mind-set for a greater good and rather than destroy, we build a positive image and and opinion, thereby creating a change.