Tonia Okoli: A multi-talented fashion and textile designer, and a conscientious Amazon

Vision Newspapers had an amazing engagement with an unsung, highly skilled designer and philanthropist from Nnewi, who, though well-known from all over Nigeria, is very much hidden in plain sight. Only her designs speak volume, for her admirers were blown away with what they saw: perfection in design with attention paid to details.

The Vision Newspapers reporter approached the four ladies who came in together decked in identical fashion ensemble with slight design variations for each of the outfit from the hat down to the shoes. She introduced herself to them and told them that their dresses caught the eyes of so many people at the high-class soiree at the house of one of the richest men in Anambra state.

They mentioned two names as the source from where the clothes were made. It turned out that though the women came down from Lagos for the event, they, however, knew the designer and dress-maker by different names. Vision Newspapers later made the move to discover who made the dress that got everyone’s attention at the party.

Vision: Now, may we know your name?

Tonia: My name is Tonia Chinenye Okoli. I am from Otolo Nnewi.

Vision: it appears that three of the four people wearing your clothes at a party in Nnewi came from Lagos; how come?

Tonia: Great many of our customers reside outside of the Nnewi urban. The ladies you referred to had been my customers from the time I used to live in Lagos. And today, I still do most of their designs.

Vision: Two of the ladies that gave us your details identified you respectively as Excel Techniques, and the other, Temple Gate. Why do you use two different business names? Wouldn’t that confuse your potential customers?

Tonia: Actually, my business name is Excel Techniques Fashion and Millinery. The other name one of them mentioned is Temple Gate Empowerment Foundation.

That is an NGO platform that I use to empower the youth through training in various skill acquisition. Not many of our clients are aware of our NGO activities.

We have trained many youths in various skill-sets such as hat-making/ fascinators, shoemaking, confectioners, handbag, tie and die, makeover, paints, candle, feather hand fan, and dressmaking.

Some of the items listed above are what we do at Excel Techniques. So, we actually run each program independently. One of the ladies knows about the NGO activities and, from time to time, addresses me in either of the names.

Vision: Why does the Foundation appear to be an unknown entity when you are doing so much?

Tonia: The truth is that it will not be anymore. The members of the Foundation are working furiously to introduce it to the public in a short time.

The program for the rolling out is in the works. As soon as we sit, I will inform you within days of our intentions.

Vision: You have a lot of people in your workshop. They must be at least 20 people here. Correct?

Tonia: I have a minimum of 30 people. However, 20 of the ladies are coming to the end of their training with Excel Techniques in various fashion-related skills acquisitions. They are on track to graduate very soon.

I am confident that if they wish to continue in this field, they will be successful, provided they keep applying dedication to the job and be respectful to their customers.

Vision: How soon do we talk about the NGO coming up stream?

Tonia: I hope we together on that within the next ten days.