A Perfect Fit

Tessa Fay Thompson BSFCS ’20 specializes in “feminine eclectic” fashion, the kind of whimsical outfits that make her clientele want to twirl around their living room floor. She designs, sews, and sells her own fashion line, a dream career for the girl who started her journey quilting granny squares over Zoom.

Thompson completed her fashion merchandising degree at the College of Family and Consumer Sciences during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The switch to learning from home created an opportunity that led to the start of her brand.

The End of Fast Fashion

During the early days of her business, Thompson designed the clothing while her grandmother finished them by hand, answered technical questions, and helped Thompson find fabric.

 “The Southeast used to be a major hub for furniture manufacturing, and there are still mom-and-pop fabric outlets scattered through small towns,” Thompson says. “My grandmother has these as her own ‘grandma spots’ that she’s been going to her entire life, sourcing textiles to decorate her home. That inspired a lot of my early work.”

She originally sourced from thrift stores and estate sales, and still does for one-offs and custom pieces, but now Thompson turns to the upholstery stores her grandmother pointed her toward for the bigger collections. The heavier fabric isn’t usually a designer’s first choice, but it helped Thompson give her dresses a unique flair.

Thompson found herself drawn to upholstery and drapery fabrics, not just because they were readily available, but because of the nostalgic feel they gave her creations. She says that touching them reminded her of a childhood playing pretend behind the curtains.

“These aren’t just everyday dresses,” Thompson says. “They’re weighty and structurally sound, the kind that hold up to be passed down as heirlooms, perfect for a wedding or a date night or any special occasion.”

This challenge helped develop Thompson’s signature style. She sources secondhand fabrics and transforms them into outfits where no version is the same because each one is crafted from the fabrics she is inspired by at the time. She creates with materials that have history: upholstery fabric, vintage doilies, rescued handkerchiefs. Every combination of textiles tells its own story to pass on to the wearer.

“In a world shaped by fast fashion, social media algorithms, and disposable culture, trends move faster than we can even process them. It’s exhausting. I think that’s why people are gravitating back toward clothing with meaning. They want to know where their clothing came from, who made it, and the story behind the fabric itself,” Thompson says.

A Made-to-Order Business

Three years ago, both Thompson and the business relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she has a team of seamstresses. She spends less time making specific orders and more time making samples, coming up with new ideas, and managing the practical side of the business.

Thompson realized that running a budding brand required more than creativity. As orders increased and her collection got more diverse, she needed a clear understanding of how ideas move from concept to customer. That’s when the foundations from her fashion merchandising degree came in handy.

“At the time, I didn’t realize how much I would rely on every class in my day-to-day life. From design and product development to accounting and managing the financial side of running a business, it gave me such a well-rounded foundation. I honestly don’t know where else I could have gained so much relevant knowledge in one place,” she says.

Thompson describes her business as a “homespun” operation, but it’s quickly growing as a social media sensation. Her followers often reach out for custom pieces that push her as a designer and business owner. She wouldn’t have it any other way.