Kristin Frazer poses with some of the products for her Sage Roots brand. Photo: VINO/Ron Henry

Models showing some of what the Sage Roots brand has to offer. Photo:supplied

Models display swimwear and other designs done by Kristin for her Trefle brand. Photo:supplied

This young Virgin Islander who happens to be a former high school teacher, founded and launched her own line of apparel called Trefle Designs and also manages the day-to-day affairs at Clovers, a store that has been in her family for three generations now. She was also sure to mention that she is one of the founders of a local natural hair care business, Sage Roots, as well.

Trefle, which was founded in 2008, she explained, is the French word for clover and her designs though not necessarily French oriented, are just as exotic and alluring as one would expect of something with a tinge of French influence.

The accomplished designer started out by doing swimwear and has now expanded her range to include resort wear as well. “It’s been a couple of years,” she disclosed, “but it’s what I love to do.”

Kristin explained that The Trefle 2012 collection called “Exxotica” is currently available at Clovers, and quickly added that there are also opportunities for discounted prices. The Sage Roots products that she and her partners handle are also available at the store.

Outside of Trefle, Ms Frazer said, “I like to give back to the community, I sing, I act… anything concerning the arts is what I engage myself in.”

“I’m here, there and everywhere basically,” she related with a giggle.

The self-confessed shopaholic, who also described herself as an avid singer, disclosed that she is a member of several choirs including that of her church as well as the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) chorale and HLSCC Memorial choir. Her music abilities also stretch to her love for playing her Clarinet where she’s also a member of the HLSCC Woodwind Ensemble.

A juggling process

Though Kristin finds that wearing the hats of manager, designer, consultant and so many others that she has adopted along the way can be challenging at times, she does all of this with an air of effortlessness, quiet strength and confidence.

“It’s a juggling process,” she declared as she described a normal day in her life, grabbing things, placing and picking up orders, making trips to the bank and organising things at the store. “I have to be able to multi task and [be able] to jump from one thing into the next.”

“It’s very tedious but it’s something that I have to do, and I get the job done… I have to get the job done, so I get the job done,” she said adding that there’s really no room for excuses.

Ms Frazer, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design & Marketing, plans to continue to focus her energies on managing Clovers, Trefle and Sage Roots for the foreseeable future.

Whenever things get near the point of becoming overwhelming, she explained that prayer, support from family and close friends, an encouraging facebook comment posted to the Trefle page or anything positive that might come in serves to boost her resolve and keeps her afloat.

These, she related, serve to “keep me motivated, to keep [me] going.” “It’s important to have a strong support system and a deep faith in God,” she advocates “I strongly believe in that because there have been times when I might have wanted to throw in the towel... but remembering scriptures like “God won’t give you more than you can bear” always sets in at the right time… every time.” 

Branding

It is important to keep putting out collections and also to stay with the seasons and trends, all of which are a prerequisite for survival or even success in the fashion design business she said, as whether she gets her line off the shelf or not she needs to “get [her] name out there.”

One might wonder how Trefle Designs gets the word out to increase awareness and enhance its branding and profile.

“When I started my company I basically started out with a website (trefledesigns.com) … I wanted [my company] to be branded as an international company.” ”I basically used that to propel myself to where I am today, in terms of if I wanted to do a show, because I’ve done Caribbean shows… from as far south as Guyana to as far north as Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.”

Kristin related that she has also done shows in New York, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Miami as well. Incidentally, Miami stood out for her as the most noteworthy frontier that she had conquered since in her opinion, it was the most accredited and international of the shows. She also uses her facebook page (facebook.com/trefledesigns) to reach members of the public as well.

“I’ve had both good and bad reviews,” she explained “but I need that to develop myself and my brand.”

She expressed a profound admiration for the work of Robert Young, Claudia Pegus, Korto Momolu, Carolina Herrea and much more. “I get inspiration from anyone, any day or any time,” she said “I do a lot of my Trefle work late at night when things are quiet and there’s nothing going on.”

“I want to be able to inspire other young people to go the design route.” She added that, “There are multiple avenues that you can take within the fashion industry… if you do recognise that there are a million people or more vying for the same thing… and have that confidence to be a part of that fold, then you’ve already started on the pathway to success.”

Above all else though, she recommends that persons should put God first, put their best foot forward and know that there are going to be pitfalls but pick yourself up and keep pushing… the sky is the limit.”

Asked to describe herself in one word, Kristen simply said “driven”; an attribute that without any doubt, is an absolute must for any measure of success to be achieved in life.