New Zealand born and bred, Tamara's history goes back to Ireland where her family owned fabric mills.
Her beloved grandmother was a well-known bridalwear tailor in Southland, and both her mother and aunts were involved in the fashion industry in their working lives.
Tamara began her own journey into fashion design at the tender age of 8, when her grandfather gave her aunt's treddle sewing machine to her. She designed, sewed and knitted all her dolls' clothes and contributed to her own wardrobe.
In her teens and 20s, she worked on commission, designing and making garments for clients. She began as a contract outworker, then a sample machinist and patternmaker and grader for top New Zealand designers, and worked in sewing factories throughout New Zealand.
In between all this, she completed a diploma in fashion and design, where she was awarded the honour of top CAD pattern-maker as a senior student.
In 2011, Tamara successfully launched the LoLLA-JANE label.
Present day
Eight years' experience in wholesale design and manufacturing, making garments on a commission basis, as well as completing business school papers, have all built the foundation for LoLLA-JANE. And it's put the label in good stead. Testament to that, Tamara's latest winter collection sold out completely when it hit the shops.
Today the designer continues to bring an individual flare to fashion, infusing a level of sophisticated sexiness into a conservative-yet-feminine style.
"LoLLA-JANE is edgy, lux classics. If we make the wearer feel confident and cool, our job is done."
