Interview with Nadia Trammell
Crochet Designer for The Fashion Issue
By Mr. Styyles
mrstyyles@excapethematrix.com
TS: Good evening Nadia. Thank you for this interview.
NT: Thank you for choosing me to be apart of the Fashion Issue.
TS: You’re welcome. Give our readers some background on Nadia Trammell?
NT: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Sterling, VA and I went to school in
Richmond. I’m very much into music, painting and I make jewelry. I conduct
jewelry parties as well as design WebPages which is what I do for my nine to
five.
TS: What is the meaning behind “NJT Designs”?
NT: Well, NJT is my initial which stands for Nadia Jean Trammell and that’s how
I came up with the name. It all started with going to Michaels and saw beads and
jewelry so I decided to make something within a week’s time. I was thinking to
myself that I should start selling jewelry.
TS: How/when did you learn to crochet?
NT: My mother taught me how to crochet. I started with a basic stitch which
ended up turning into a scarf and then a hat. From there on I just taught myself
the rest, I read the crochet pattern books but for the most part I don’t work
with pattern I just freestyle and just make it happen. So it’s been about three
years ago.
TS: What does being a designer mean to you?
NT: It’s like creating a painting for me. I look at it as a fantasy world when
it comes to fashion shows. I use to dress up Barbie’s when I was a little girl
and that’s what it feels like to me now just dressing up real life people.
TS: Who or what inspires you to be a crochet designer?
NT: I actually feel like I fell into it by accident because I never thought I
would actually design garments for people to actually wear. I started doing
jewelry for a fashion show and I happen to inform people that I also was a
crochet designer. I was asked if I would make some crochet garments for another
fashion show and it just went from there. It was my first crochet garments that
I ever made and I got a response from it.
TS: What makes your crochet designs different from any other designer in
the area?
NT: I noticed that a lot of designers in the area have more of the urban
multi-color pattern. I try to make my designs so it doesn’t look like crochet. I
spice my designs with bright colors; add jewelry, fur and sequence. I add my
touch of flavor to make my designs stand out.
TS: Have you always known that you wanted to be a crochet designer?
NT: No, as I mentioned before I just fell into but I really enjoy it. I’m gotten
to the point of my designs that I’ve added the latest addition to NJT Designs. I
make stylish clothing for dogs and the line is called Not Knots named after my
dog.
TS: That’s really cool. So your dog can be just as stylish as the owner.
NT: Absolutely.
TS: If you could work with one model who would it be?
NT: I would love to work with a full figured model such as Queen Latifah. I’m a
full figured woman so I want to really expose designs that a woman with curves
and hips could see themselves wearing.
TS: Does your designs gear towards men as well as women?
NT: I design for the men stylish hats and wrist warmers. I haven’t really
thought of what men would like to wear in a crochet design so I haven’t gone too
far with menswear as of yet.
TS: Do you feel that crochet designer get the recognition they deserve?
NT: No because when I first started I didn’t know there were other crochet
designers in the DMV area. The first person that I heard of was Annette
“Contagious Williams and I was like there are other crochet designers. So I was
really excited to find out there were more out there. After meeting her she
really enlightened me by informing that there were other crochet designers.
TS: How would you describe your fashion sense?
NT: I prefer to just wear jeans and t-shirt, some make up and I’ve started to
wear my jewelry. Sometimes I may dress up but for the most part I’m just simple.
TS: What do you think is the hottest trend out today for females?
NT: I like the long tunic shirts because you can wear it so many ways and it
really shows off the figure without showing too much skin.
TS: Do you have any other interest/talents?
NT: I love music. I sing and write music. I don’t discriminate at all with
music.
TS: What do you feel you need to learn in order to become one of the best?
NT: I have so much to learn. I sew a bit but I want to take some more classes.
Even though I crochet I would like to expand and do other designs within the
fashion industry.
TS: What makes Nadia the most uncomfortable?
NT: Not knowing what people expect of my designs.
TS: What advice would you give for upcoming designers that are trying to get
into the industry?
NT: Don’t feel like your designs aren’t good enough commit to your craft as a
designer and go with it.
TS: If you could collaborate with one designer who would it be?
NT: I don’t know many designers but I would have to say Annette Williams.
TS: What would people be surprised to know about you?
NT: That I seat behind a desk all day working with computers.
TS: Where do you see yourself as a designer in the fashion industry?
NT: I want to be the designer that comes out with the new designs that everyone
wants to wear.
TS: Where can people find your collection?
NT: You find and purchase my collection at www.njtdesigns.com. I have an online
store where you can purchase items and if you want something custom made you can
just contact me directly from the website.
TS: What’s next for Nadia?
NT: I’m concentrating on promoting my online store and I want to design a
signature garment that I can sell online that will give me a quick turn around.
TS: Well, thank you so much Nadia for this lovely interview.
NT: It was my pleasure thank you again for allowing me to share.
TS: Well, this has been another interview from yours truly. REMEMBER
THAT FASHION IS NOT WHAT YOU WEAR BUT HOW YOU WEAR IT!