Words by Tami Tsansai, Photos by Norman Allen, Donn Thompson and Anya Saran Schultheiss—
What comes to mind when you think of Tortola? Beautiful beaches, scenic mountains, even volcanoes… but fashion? Not so much. Of course we have our fashion feelers out across the region, so we were quite happy when designer/artist Kristin Frazer popped up on our radar. This humble, creative “daughter of the soil of Tortola, British Virgin Islands,” as she says, is a third-generation seamstress in a line of fashion-minded ladies. Since forming her company, Trèfle, she has since been quietly racking up cool points in the fashion industry. Let’s start at the beginning…
Kristin’s love for sewing grew stronger throughout her school days, but she also had a love for theater and the musical arts, so she prioritized that instead, and made fashion design a fun hobby. It was during her time earning an Associate degree in Arts at the local community college that she decided to pursue fashion fully. Two internships later — with Carolina Herrera and BCBG Max Azria, no less — she set about infusing her Virgin Islands sensibilities into beautiful, comfortable and timeless pieces.
Trèfle, which means clover in French, is a tribute to Kristin’ late grandmother Ruth Clover Anthony who taught her how to sew … the line is bold, fun, memorable and there is something for everyone, children included. We could continue to sing her praises, but of course it’s much more fun to introduce her directly. Click through to see her vibrant designs, and read on to learn more about Ms. Frazer and her plans to put the British Virgin Islands on the fashion map.
