Going commando in the name of fashion: Sustainaheaux on her kaleidoscopic patchwork pieces
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @sustainaheaux
NAME TANZII JAMES
AGE 32
LOCATION Bushwick, Brooklyn
STAR SIGN Taurus
LIFE MANTRA Put the work in ‘til it works out.
SUSTAINAHEAUX, the lovechild of Tanzania (Tanzii) James, is all about thrifting, social responsibility and repurposing pieces brought back from holidays. Her colourfully stitched bralettes, tops and dresses mix squares of ‘70s style fabric to form delicate patchworks that drape around the body. “Sustainability in fashion has always been a core focus of mine,” she notes. “Fashion is recycled from era to era, so it was only right to recycle the already-created garments. I used the term Heaux because I wanted to breathe new life into a derogatory term and empower people to be who they want to be.”
Although her sustainable designs have already been worn by rising musicians BAILEY BRYAN, LEXXY and model MEGAN GABRIELLE, James’ success has not come about through a traditional background in fashion. “I started out sewing in a garment construction class in 2013. I was immediately intrigued by design, but being a mother, the thought of being a creative full-time was scary,” she explains. “After my studies at FIT, I was still too scared then to take that leap of faith into design, so I took the safe route and went into management after college. After three years of being used and abused, Covid forced me to tap into my creativity. I’ve been designing full-time for a year now and I couldn’t be happier living out my true purpose.”
Zofia Zwieglinska: What did you discover about yourself while studying at FIT?
Tanzii James: I realised that I was able to keep reinventing myself whilst at FIT. After moving to NYC from California to be a model and then having a child – so many people thought I couldn’t do it. I realised after attending FIT and seeing so many mothers persevering, I knew that my story in fashion was not over.
ZZ: Which app do you spend too much time on?
TJ: I spend most of my time on Pinterest. My ideas are always flowing so Pinterest helps me sort them out.
ZZ: What does sustainability mean to you in one sentence?
TJ: For me, sustainability means having the capacity to be ever flowing.
ZZ: Lockdown 3.0 in 3 words...
TJ: Reflection, metamorphosis, results.
ZZ: Best thing you’ve ever overheard?
TJ: My daughter telling her friends how cool I am :-)
ZZ: Worst fashion trend you participated in?
TJ: The good ol’ coloured contacts and apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur era.
ZZ: Biggest pinch me moment?
TJ: Literally anytime a stylist reaches out to me to pull pieces for an artist I love.
ZZ: Thongs for eternity or Bridget Jones’ panties?
TJ: What are panties? Haha – I go commando very often. But thongs if I have to choose.
ZZ: Most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
TJ: Cried over a boy.