Court documents related to the bankruptcy case have revealed internal conflicts over control of TrèStique.
Tomia Beauty, the company behind popular color cosmetics brand TrèStique, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a New Jersey court amidst a contentious dispute between its founders. Founded in 2015 by Jennifer Kapahi and Jack Bensason, veterans of cosmetics company Intercos, TrèStique gained recognition for its innovative “Face in a Case” concept. In 2021, the brand underwent a relaunch, introducing new products, updated formulas, and eco-friendly packaging.
However, court documents related to the bankruptcy case have revealed internal conflicts over control of TrèStique. Tomia, a company affiliated with Kapahi, alleged that Bensason partnered with outside investor Asuf Landau to form a new company also named Trestique. The court filings referenced public records indicating the creation of a Delaware corporation called Lucky Color Inc. in January, with a subsequent name amendment filed in March to Trestique Inc. Tomia’s court filing accused Bensason and Landau of changing the name of their entity to Trestique Inc. in order to succeed Tomia after allegedly looting TrèStique’s cosmetics line and other assets.
The legal document further claimed that Bensason, Landau, and Lucky Color secured a significantly discounted loan from Tomia and are now seeking to facilitate the “looting” of the debtor’s assets. Tomia Beauty was recently informed by a Florida law firm of an upcoming sale of all its properties, prompting concerns regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the auction and the potential loss of valuable assets, including over $1 million worth of inventory, intellectual property, and established vendor relationships.
As of now, representatives for Tomia and its founders have not responded to requests for comment, and contact information for Bensason and Landau remains unavailable. TrèStique products are currently sold through the brand’s website and Amazon. Despite the bankruptcy filing, the TrèStique website remains operational.
According to court documents, Tomia Beauty reported a net loss of $279,556 for the first half of the year. The bankruptcy proceedings will likely shed further light on the dispute and determine the future of the company and its assets.
