Meet Tamera Francis, a fashion textiles graduate from Middlesex University. Tamera’s graduate collection is inspired by her mother and aunts making their clothing at home before going out dancing. The clothes were made quickly and creatively, often falling apart on the dancefloor.
Tamera’s knitwear design explores this through dropped lace holes, laddering, experimenting with yarns such as elastics and viscose. She wants to bring more fun to fashion design as well as continue celebrating and exploring her culture through fashion. Read more below!
What is the most valuable thing you have learnt at university?
To always be open minded. Before going into my chosen specialism, on my course, in your first year there are 3 different rotations to explore which are knit, print and weave. Initially my mind was set on print and with knit being the last rotation I was dreading it very much. However, it was a huge shock for me as knit turned out to be my favourite rotation and I had went on to specialise in it. Originally before starting university I was torn between doing fashion textiles at Middlesex and doing a fashion print course at a different university. I am glad I chose fashion textiles because if I did not I feel I would not have found my love for knitting.
Tell us about your current projects and work, what have you been working on?
My BA Graduate Collection is inspired by my mother and the nights out she used to have when her and her sisters would make their own clothes at home, wear them out and party all night and there was always a Jamaican dancehall theme to it. Clothes were made quickly and with no rules, so my mum has told me funny stories of their clothes falling apart whilst on the dance floor, which has inspired me to look into ways of manipulating fabric and textiles as if it was torn apart. As a knitwear designer, I explored dropped lace holes, laddering, experimenting with yarns such as elastics and viscose and worked with bottle tops to create textiles fit for nights out dancing.
What form does your work take?
Originally the form would have been a final collection showcased at my graduate fashion show. However since we went into lock down, I’ve reinterpreted one of my looks at a smaller scale using tracing paper and embroidery, modelling it on bottles of rum and making my own mini club with the materials I had lying around. You can find my video on youtube and on my instagram @tamera_francis. I am planning on making the rest of my collection at a smaller scale as well.
How have you evolved as a young creative while studying / working?
As stated earlier I initially was only interested in print. However back in secondary school I was originally just interested in textiles but with textile courses being limited when starting college I came across a fashion course which helped me realise I wanted to study fashion textiles at University. Studying on a fashion textiles course and being introduced to other options such as weave and knit has helped me to always stay open minded. This attitude has pushed me to be very experimental with my designs.
What are the messages and themes behind your project that you want people to take away? Do explore any topics like diversity, sustainability or politics in your work?
The message behind my project is just me embracing my culture as well as my mother’s past passion for making clothes. I really had fun adding my interpretation on it.
What’s an aspect of the fashion industry that you’re passionate about fixing or having a positive impact on?
An area which I am looking to have a positive impact on in the industry would be on having more diversity in terms of people of colour, as I believe representation matters. So hopefully fellow creatives like myself can continue to work towards creating an environment in the industry that will enable this more.
What is your plan for the future?
Collaborating with other creatives on projects and building connections, working in the industry to continue to strengthen my knowledge and skills and possibly to do an MA in the future. I also hope one day, when I have access to the facilities, I can create and showcase my BA collection at full scale.