Fashion Meets Music sat down British self-taught seamstress Andrea Afrominx.
She spoke to us about her passion for fashion, her love affair with music and gave some personal insights to hopefully inspire other creatives.
FMM: Hi Andrea, thanks for taking the time to chat with Fashion Meets Music. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work.
No problem it’s my pleasure. I’m Andrea, I’m a self-taught seamstress and have been sewing for roughly 7 years. I mostly make women’s clothes but have recently dabbled in men’s tailoring. The most satisfying thing about making clothes is the flexibility it gives me to fully express myself through my clothes. And I love that I have the skills to be able to do that for other people too.
FMM: How did you get into fashion and what is the meaning behind your brand name?
I always knew I wanted to work in fashion. Growing up I wanted to be a model, I watched America’s Next Top Model religiously. I was watching from as far back as when ASOS (at the time they were known as, As Seen On Screen, not ASOS) sponsored it on Living TV (before it was Sky Living). I remember I chose modeling as a careers option at school when we had a careers day, along with photographer, designer, social worker, carer, probation officer, a real mix. But fashion was the thing I wanted to get into and get to the top. As soon as I turned 16 I got a Saturday job in TKMaxx and that was it. I was hooked, little bit of change in my pocket, staff discount and a shop full of a whole spectrum of clothes, heaven.
My Brand name doesn’t really have a meaning. It is something that has evolved overtime. And in this time I have become my Brand or maybe it’s that my Brand has become me. Andrea Afrominx, Girl with the Afro. Is who I am now, a girl who is confident and comfortable in her own skin and wants to show her truest self without hiding behind ideals. In the beginning I just adopted a name that came up in conversation with a girl I knew from my hometown and took it on because I thought it made me sound interesting, Andrea Afrominx (said with a hint of a whisper). I thought it was a conversation piece, “why is she Afrominx? Who is Afrominx?”. But as I began to understand what minx meant, I started to question if it was the right thing. Did it give of the right impression, could it give off different connotations to what was intended, is it a name that has legs that can stand the test of time? Then one day I realized that a name is a name; it can carry both positive and negative connotations depending on whom or what carries it. It was then I realized it’s more about everything else built around the name rather than the name itself. And that was when I started thinking more of building the Brand around the name rather than building a Brand to fit the name, because if I did that I would probably be working in a different industry!
FMM: Was there a defining point in your career, and if so, how did it shape you as a designer?
There was a defining point in my career. It happened early on when I enrolled at a sewing school/class to get guidance on technique and how to construct a women’s blazer; the teacher said to me that she didn’t think I would be able to make the garment as it was too advanced for me. Unfortunately my circumstances changed and I had to leave the class. And in an effort to prove this lady wrong, I spent my next free weekend making the blazer. It was the first one I every made and it came out perfect, I still wear it today and get a bunch of compliments. As a designer, it gave me the confidence in my skills, the belief that I knew what I was doing and confirmation that I could make anything I put my mind to.
FMM: You’ve got a pretty unique style. Do you think it’s important to have a style in an industry that’s so diverse? Did you set out to develop this style, or did it just evolve naturally?
I think it is important to standout in any industry you’re in, but in fashion it’s about selling a lifestyle; it’s not just about the clothes. So you need style that wants people to take notice of and be interested, but not be annoyed or put off.
I didn’t set out to develop a style, and if you asked me to define my style in 3 words I wouldn’t be able too. I have tried on countless occasions. My style has evolved overtime, but there are still core elements that form the foundations. For me style is not something you can choose, it chooses you. I remember my mum saying to me growing up “you must wear the clothes, the clothes mustn’t wear you” and I think when you can nail that, that is your style. Style is clothes that look good on you, not clothes that someone else is telling you or influencing you to wear for their own or unknown reasons.
FMM: How does music play a part in your design process, if any?
Music pays a big part in my design process. When I have a lot of work to get through its classical music all day! It keeps me calm and focused. When I’m a more relaxed day, sketching, testing out fabric, choosing a print etc. it’s whatever music fits my mood, there is always music on when I’m working. I can’t bare working in silence.
FMM: If you could change one thing about your career to date, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about my career to date, I would be braver. Being brave forces you to stand up and try things out and test your limits. You can lose a lot from being too brave, but you can learn a lot about yourself too. So it needs to be a balance, but in the instances when I have been brave I have gained so much, that I feel I would have benefited from being brave a few more times. But I have no regrets.
FMM: If, in some Freaky Friday-like situation, you could live the life of another designer or creative, for a day, who would it be, and why?
Who would I live as for a day? That’s a tough question.
If I had to choose it would be between Tom Ford and Elie Saab. I don’t know if that is possible as they are both guys, but hey. Tom Ford, is amazing for what he has achieved and how. Then there is Elie Saab who’s Bridal and Couture shows are my most favorite thing. I would love to get into their minds and see the world as they do to find out what I can learn from them.
FMM: How would you define success? Do you think you’ve found it yet?
For me, success is to be happy with every aspect of my life. It doesn’t mean I will be happy every day of my life, but content enough to know that I have made the right choices for me. We are all so much more productive and efficient and all the other key buzzwords when we are happy so if I can be happy most of the time I’m statistically bound to then have all the other things that success can be measures on such as health and wealth.
FMM: If you could design for any music artist, who would it be and why?
If I could design for anyone it would be Solange. Think you could hook that up?
I feel like she would be really fun to design. The brief would be so open I could design anything and have the freedom to create something really unique.
FMM: What’s one random thing about you that people might not know?
One random thing about me is that I always carry with me a notebook, with space to write and make sketches, a pencil case, full of colored pencils and regular pencils and a tape measure.
FMM: What tips would you give to anybody who is looking to get started in fashion?
The number one tip I would give to anybody looking to get started in fashion is. Before you start make sure you know who you are, you believe in yourself and you have an idea of where you want to get to. Because you will 100% come across people who will test you and make you doubt yourself and make you think that you should give up or that you have done it all wrong. So you need a solid foundation to fall back on when you get knocked down so that you can get back up again with a fire in your belly to succeed and prove the nay sayers wrong.
Where can we find you?
Website: http://afrominx.co.uk
Twitter: @afrominx
Instagram: @girl_with_the_afro
YouTube: Andrea Afrominx
Facebook: facebook.com/girlwiththeafro
Thank you so much for taking the time out Andrea.
Check out our Fashion Meets Music Video Snapshot with Andrea on the site.
