Meet Victoria Trent of Oakland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Trent.

Hi Victoria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey into fashion has always been driven by a desire to challenge the status quo and give people a way to express their truest, most individual selves. I didn’t want to just create clothes; I wanted to build wearable art that carries an independent, unmistakable identity.
That passion eventually led to the birth of my brand, Toria’s Closet. My love for making things by hand started with my grandmother, who taught me how to crochet. Over time, that foundational skill evolved into a passion for creating high-fashion couture clothing. As I deepened my craft, I realized that this meticulous, handmade process was actually a beautiful tether to a long heritage of African culture—the ancestral tradition of creating things entirely by hand. Once I fully understood that connection, I leaned into it completely.
Today, I specialize in a gothic ethereal aesthetic, blending dark, romantic mystery with delicate, artisanal craftsmanship. My work is also deeply intertwined with my spiritual practice; I infuse that energy and intention directly into my pieces, treating each garment like a sacred canvas. Every creation tells a story of contrast: strength and softness, ancient symbolism and modern style.
Getting to where I am today has been a journey of pure dedication, late nights in the studio, and constantly pushing the boundaries of my creative vision. From showcasing my collections on major regional runways, like Fashion Week Sacramento, to seeing my editorial work featured in magazines, every milestone has been about staying fiercely authentic to my craft. Toria’s Closet continues to grow as an independent couture brand for individuals who dare to stand out, and I am incredibly proud to weave my history, spirituality, and culture into the fabric of everything I do.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road at all. Building this brand has been a long, demanding journey that started all the way back during my years in school, trying to balance the technical demands of the craft with the vision I wanted to bring to life.
Once I broke into the industry, the challenges only intensified. Navigating the business and social networking sides of the fashion world as a female designer is incredibly challenging. In my experience, it can be deeply frustrating to get the value and respect you deserve as a woman creator. There is often an uphill battle to be taken seriously, to have your business acumen respected, and to ensure your artistry isn’t minimized in rooms that are heavily driven by gatekeepers.
Every milestone I’ve reached has required twice the grit because of these hurdles. But overcoming that lack of respect has only made me fiercer about my independence. It pushed me to lean harder into my heritage, my spiritual practice, and the undeniable quality of my handmade couture. The road wasn’t easy, but it proved to me that my voice and my work belong in this industry—on my own terms.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As the designer behind Toria’s Closet, I create handmade couture with a gothic ethereal aesthetic, treating every garment as a sacred canvas where I infuse my spiritual practice into the fabric. My love for making things by hand started with my grandmother, who taught me how to crochet, and it eventually led me to realize that this meticulous process is actually a beautiful connection to a long heritage of African culture. My path hasn’t been easy at all; navigating the fashion industry and breaking into the social networking scene as a female designer has been a long, challenging road where women creators often have to fight to be valued and respected. However, my background working as a visual manager with different brands has given me a major edge. Visuals are highly creative, and that corporate experience taught me exactly how customers interact with different brands, allowing me to use that knowledge to create a story that blends my unique style with what I know the customer will love. I am incredibly proud of how far my dedication has taken me, with my absolute greatest accomplishment being the opportunity to showcase my work with Brandon Vaughn at Levi’s Stadium—proving that staying true to my culture, my roots, and my artistry can command the biggest stages

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Stick your art and you can’t go wrong, and make sure you love every piece you make.

Pricing:

• My pieces are specifically made so pricing varies

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empresstoria?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@toriascloset?si=I17vIVS-0hNJsiwo