Everybody wants to be considered fashionable. I am sure many of us have done fashion shows in our bedrooms, done a photoshoot that made us feel like we were Vogue models or have a celebrity’s closet we would love to raid. Anyway you take it, clothing is a means of expression, can be used to make many statements and our unique style speaks a lot about our personality.
Kristia Franklin, commonly known as My Repeat Offender, is a Jamaican stylist, entrepreneur and fashionista who always dared to be different. By merging her fun-loving, vibrant and bubbly personality with her fashion sense, Kristia managed to create Tia Clothes Girl. Tia Clothes Girl is a clothing company dedicated to empowering everybody to be one of a kind. Kristia always knew she wanted to become an entrepreneur and has manged to take her brand from racks to music videos, such as “Paradise Plum” by Naomi Cowan and she is just getting started!
Carib Voxx had the utmost privilege of interviewing Kristia Franklin and trust me, you are going to love it.
CARIB VOXX: Many stylists fall into that profession in unassuming ways such as helping friends and family decide on outfits growing up.” “Would you say that your story is similar in that regard?
Kristia: Yes I would, two things led me to styling. I became a merchandiser, I started my brand @tiaclothesgirl and many times, I would buy single pieces and then match them with others and sell them together as an outfit. I believe that kinda started to teach me how to style, how to pick and match pieces that work well together. Also I’d have customers buy a specific piece and ask me how else they can wear it or with what else. Those questions started to mentally challenge me and started to spark my interest in styling. The other contributing factor was my budget. In university I wanted to maintain my style but on a student budget. That definitely challenged my creativity to mix and match my pieces and to try and get as many different looks out of my wardrobe as possible.
CARIB VOXX: In Jamaican fashion culture; there once was disdain towards re-wearing clothing items to social events. Do you think that dynamic is unique to Jamaican fashion culture?
Kristia: I don’t think it’s only in our culture, but it is definitely a part of our culture. Jamaicans are very fashionable and very competitive when it comes to fashion, we often hear “nobody nuh more than me!”. Jamaicans like to show out and come out. A huge part of our culture is celebration. We celebrate everything and we believe every event or every celebration deserves its best and deserves something new including a whole new outfit.
CARIB VOXX: Why did you feel it was necessary to combat this dynamic with your My Repeat Offender brand?
Kristia: I don’t think that’s really what influenced it. As much as I do love to celebrate and I do love new clothes. What really influenced my brand was to show my fellow university students how to still be stylish on a daily basis without breaking into our savings. How to tone down our party clothes to wear to school, how to make a twist on our church clothes and wear it to school, how to wear out going-out clothes and turn it around into school outfits.
CARIB VOXX: When was My Repeat Offender started officially and what has been the most poignant lessson you’ve learnt from this brand thus far?
Kristia: I started in 2013, I have learnt over and over the need of consistency for growth. I re-learned that just the other day once again. Consistency is needed for any brand to grow and from time to time I do lack that. Sometimes I can’t be bothered to bother someone to take a photo of my outfit. I don’t really like to ask people, but sometimes you just have to in order to get your photo to post.
CARIB VOXX: By ALL indications it is going to be a HOT summer! What are 3 pieces every girl needs to have in their wardrobe for this season?
Kristia: With all that’s going on I hope we get to have a summer! If we do, every girl should buy a matching shorts set or pants set, why? Because those are really value for your money, you can easily split them up and wear them with different things, I have so many sets that I haven’t even worn together as yet but I’ve worn them separately countless times. Another must have is a cute, short, flirty, loose dress. These are easy to just throw on and head out the door quickly. Although dresses are not very versatile, you’ll have to change up the look with wearing different shoes, sneakers sometimes, sandals another, chunky heels for a lunch date and also switch up the bags, can be a fanny pack one day, a little clutch, a statement piece clutch, sunglasses. The list goes on, just accessorise differently each time to change up the outfits look. Lastly some denim shorts, a timeless piece that can be dressed all the way up and all the way down, can even be worn to the beach.” ” Everyone is heading to the beach for the summer aren’t we?
CARIB VOXX: Name a Caribbean personality outside of the Jamaica, that you would love to style?
Kristia: Every stylist in the world wants to style Rihanna!!!
CARIB VOXX: Styling an individual can become such a personal experience. Name a client you’ve worked with professionally that the relationship evolved into a friendship/sisterhood?
Kristia: I feel like a have a set of about 6 customers who have turned into friends whom I hold dear to my heart. Jeneque is actually one of my best friends now and I’m long overdue a dinner date at Kaci, and a lunch date with Sevana.
CARIB VOXX: Would you ever consider evolving from a stylist to a fashion designer; making original pieces?
Kristia: I do make original pieces from time to time, more of a hobby though and it will remain that way.
Fashion is an industry that is forever evolving. From large handbags to now miniature bags, from subtle colours to Vibrant neon colours and finally from loose fitting clothing to now skin tights clothing, it is safe to say that ever once in a while we need a stylist to get that saucy look. Follow Kristia Franklin on Instagram @My Repeat Offender to keep up with everything chic and poppin’.
