We were lucky to catch up with Jammella Anderson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jammella , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I think for me, I have always been the person who has the ideas. I can see a vision, understand the concept, know what the final product is – so it’s always been hard for me to feel like the one who CAN create the art. I felt like more of the director than the creator. I think my brand really came out of burn-out in the other world i participate in – social justice/reparative justice/food security. My work is heavy and really passion driven, like most things I do, but I knew in order to continue doing that work I needed to pivot. Clothing has always been a huge piece of the my life. It’s my life, expression and such a big extension of who I am.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Cue the uptick in vintage and resale world and I felt super drawn to it – more on the sustainability side. As a hobby I knit for fun, typically just one and done projects or gifts for people. One christmas my partner gifted me a sewing machine and that’s when really all of the worlds merged for me. Making clothing that represents me, is reducing the foot print that fast fashion has history and is walking art. This is how lil thrift ma was born. Not meant to be a whole other career path for me but really without warning it took over my life in the best way. Another way to express myself, to represent all people, all sizes, all experiences. I started out by curating vintage focusing on sizes typically not represented – size medium and higher. It felt like i finally found my niche. All people deserve to feel good when they walk into a store or attend a market. Clothing can really be so isolating especially when it feels like things aren’t for you or represent you. After much trial and error I also started to incorporate my handmade items. Not using new textiles but exploring the idea of deconstructing textiles or using bed sheets, curtains or blankets and making them into new items: jackets, pants, sweaters, shirts. How can we use what have and reimagine what it can be turned into. My true specialty is making crochet and knit blankets into jackets. Giving a second life to a textile that gets tossed into the attic and forgotten about. There is so much out there, textile wise, that is just waiting to be reworked and renewed. I’ve been able to turn the blankets from peoples grandparents into something cozy and warm and even more functional. I think my most proud moments are seeing people smile because they’ve found something that feels like it was made (by me) and just for them. I think that knowing how special it feels to put that really dope piece of clothing on and knowing that not a single person in the world has it, is definitely an added bonus. Clothing IS art, people ARE art, we ARE art. A perfect collaboration.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I think one of the absolute beings things I wish I knew is that – creativity isn’t always happening. Inspiration isn’t always there and sometimes you just need to step away to really get a clearer view of your mission or project. Sometimes it doesn’t work the way you think but if you give yourself the opportunity to work on something else or take a break entirely. It can be your best muse. And also, ask other artists questions!! Research watch videos, go back to the drawing board. Talk to people you’re inspired – you don’t know everything, no one does! Keep learning – sign up for classes. I am self taught and there is so much I have to learn. And the other thing is: the thrift store really is your friend. An incredible place to find materials at lesser prices and there are a ton of second hand textile
stores. If I knew at the beginning I would have saved a lot of money on failed projects, haha!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think the most rewarding part of being an artist is seeing people feel like home in one of my pieces. Seeing them wrap themselves in an item that was made with so much love by me and the person who originally made the textile. This new article of clothing now a true extension of the human wearing it.

Contact Info:

• Website: lilthriftma.com
• Instagram: @lilthrift_ma

Image Credits
Michael Valiquette