Tony Roche opened his doors in Waterford in 1981. Over forty years later, with his daughter Elaine now at the helm, the business has reinvented itself as TRM Clothing — named for Tony’s initials — with a flagship store at 45/46 Michael Street in the heart of Waterford city. The rebrand brought a bigger space, a sharper edit, and what feels like a new chapter for one of the south east’s most enduring fashion retailers.
What You’ll Find
The Michael Street store is laid out with some care. Ground floor: smart casual menswear and a well-curated women’s section. First floor: a proper suits department covering everything from business to occasion. The brand mix is solid — Selected Homme, Selected Femme, Levi’s, Diesel, Bugatti, Benetti, Fred Perry, 6th Sense, Casa Moda — clothes for people who know what they’re looking for and don’t want to spend an afternoon in a city-centre department store finding it.
The store also houses Blackfriars Coffee and the Raff barber shop, which makes it the kind of genuinely useful city-centre destination where several things can happen in a single visit. A second location at the original George’s Court premises carries a discounted range — worth knowing about if you’re looking for something specific without the full-price commitment.
A Waterford Retail Story
There’s something quietly impressive about a family business that has traded in Waterford city through four decades of retail change and come out the other side with a better offer than it started with. TRM isn’t trying to be a concept store or a lifestyle brand. It’s a well-run independent fashion shop that stocks good clothes and knows its customers. Waterford needs more of those, not fewer.
TRM Clothing is at 45/46 Michael Street, Waterford city. Online at trmclothing.ie.
