HOW A DREAM OUTFIT FOR A DREAM TRIP TURNED INTO A FASHION DREAM COME TRUE
Designer Tamisha Barry is seen in one of her handmade crochet dresses from TamBran’s Bearth collection. Photo courtesy of Tamisha Barry.
Picture this: Sitting in your dorm room, minding your business and planning your outfits for your upcoming trip to Mexico to celebrate your 26th birthday. Then, in what seems like no time, you find yourself at the helm of a growing business, selling items on your website, and blessed with a following of loyal customers who can’t seem to get enough of your handmade crochet fashions.
Well, that’s exactly what happened to Tamisha Barry, 31, an ophthalmic assistant and medical scribe on St. Croix, who is also the founder of fashion-forward crochet brand, TamBran.
“The brand started five years ago in my dorm room at Barry University in Miami, where I was a biomedical grad student at the time,” she tells me.
Tamisha says that “crocheting has always been a faint thought” at the back of her mind, but she had never pursued it “until the moment felt right.”
That right moment came in 2020 when she was visualizing the outfits she would wear for her birthday getaway to Tulum that year. She saw herself “wearing pieces that felt raw, organic and handmade” as images of clothing made from linen, cotton, and yarn danced in her head. She was interested in things “that matched the earthy, natural vibe of Tulum,” she says.
Since Tulum was a dream destination for Tamisha, she thought it would be a dream come true to do something special—create something with her hands—to mark the special occasion.
Tamisha is seen in a TamBran crocheted sunflower halter crop top inspired by nature. Photo courtesy of Tamisha Barry.
“I said, ‘I’m going to create my own top.’ I’m very good with my hands—so I always knew I could do it,” she says. “I always had faith that I could definitely do it.”
The “Tulum Top”
Tamisha’s first crocheted piece—her Tulum top—was a tan-colored cropped style with shell-like crocheted appliques around the trim. An adjustable string secures the top behind the neck in a halter. “I didn’t have to make too many adjustments to it because of the adjustable tie in the back,” she explains.
The top took her “a couple days” to complete, and she paired it with boyfriend jeans for her Tulum birthday look. “I loved it. I was so obsessed with it, and I couldn’t wait to take pictures,” she says. “I was very, very proud of that.” Today, she keeps the top safely stored in her closet to remind her of her beginnings. “That’s just something that needs to be framed,” she says.
Tamisha is seen in her “Tulum Top,” her very first crocheted piece that she made to wear on a getaway to Tulum, Mexico for her 26th birthday. That one piece soon turned into the establishment of her TamBran crochet fashion brand. Photo courtesy of Tamisha Barry.
Tamisha says learning to crochet always felt like a natural fit for her, citing the versatility of the art form. “It does give you the freedom to create more than just clothing and it reflects tradition, artistry, and slow fashion,” she explains, noting that she learned the craft by watching the YouTube channels of top crocheters.
But while she began her crocheting journey on a whim as a personal, creative experiment, the enthusiastic response from her friends opened her eyes to broader possibilities.
“My friends hyped me up so much when I showed them my first piece,” she remembers. “They were so excited about it. I knew they were always going to be supportive, but the way they reacted made me realize I needed to take this serious for real.” They soon began encouraging her to produce more items and post photos of her creations on social media, eventually paving the way for the creation of TamBran, a nod to the colloquial pronunciation Crucians use when referring to the tamarind fruit.
Tamisha says crocheting, which some scholars believe has its origins in Iran, South America or China, but that really grew in popularity in 19th century England, feels right for island temperatures and life.
“For island living, it feels instinctive—it’s light, it’s minimal, it’s breathable, yet bold enough to make a statement,” she says. “I feel like it really aligns with the lifestyle here in the Caribbean, so everything was a go for me. All of those things gave me more reasons to take it seriously and just go for it.”
Just Keep Creating
The dedicated ophthalmology professional, who describes hair braiding as her second job, has been trying to work out a schedule to fit more time in for crocheting. Her last “crochet binge,” as she calls it, was for the annual Mango Mele fundraiser in July.
“I crocheted about six items during that time period and that got me back into thinking about getting my new collection going,” she explains. “I have a plan, for the very near future, to release more products on my website.”
The beauty of St. Croix and the Caribbean inspire Tamisha, who also models, to keep creating her crochet fashions.
“Just imagining TamBran pieces in these breathtaking locations, along with beautiful locals and myself, I get really excited about that,” she says. “I think about doing this piece in this area or by this beach—that keeps me going and motivated to make these pieces and take these photos.”
As for the amount of time it takes to produce an item, Tamisha says a dress can take up to eight hours from start to finish, while a crop top can take half that time. Smaller items like a bucket hat can take around 2-3 hours. “It all varies, based on the complexity and style of the design, but I enjoy the process, no matter how long it takes.”
The designer says she gets a lot of positive feedback when she posts on social media, which helps to build her confidence in the skill. “The support from my friends and my family also plays a huge role in me taking the craft seriously,” she adds.
Tamisha models a chic black crochet two-piece from TamBran that is embellished with cowry shells. Photo courtesy of Tamisha Barry.
Tamisha also credits her staying power to the “amazing community of crocheters out there” who share their work and expertise online for free. She finds inspiration through observing their work and finding ways to put her own creative twist on the items. “I love adding a personal flair, so the final piece feels true to the brand,” she says.
That TamBran appeal, Tamisha says, “is being raw, it’s sexy, it’s organic—just being yourself and being free.” She points out that she also draws design inspiration from 90s dancehall music along with other musical artists from the Caribbean.
Changing the Crochet Narrative
Crocheting has long been thought of as an activity for older people. While she respects the long tradition of the art form being practiced by Caribbean elders, she is happy to be a part of the changing face of the craft.
“I love being a part of that changing narrative because crocheting has such a long and rich history, but for a long time, it was boxed in as something only for older people,” she says. “For me, it’s exciting to show how sexy and stylish it can be, and I think younger people are drawn to it now because it feels unique, it’s handmade and intentional, it’s fashion with a story behind it. I feel proud to bring that modern, Caribbean youthful energy into the craft.”
Tamisha models a crocheted bralette from her TamBran Bearth collection. Photo courtesy of Tamisha Barry.
Tamisha enjoys crocheting modern designs like crop tops, bandeau tops, and swimwear, and adding flair to them with crocheted appliques that give the garment a playful, 3D effect. For instance, she says crocheting an applique of the V.I. flag, the official V.I. bird, local fruits, and other aspects of Caribbean culture can really enhance the look of a garment and “bring it to life.”
TamBran 2.0
Tamisha released her first TamBran collection, Bearth, in 2021. Over the last six months, she has been quietly and quickly working on items for her second collection, which is expected to drop before Thanksgiving in time for St. Croix’s festival season. It will include an expanded inventory of bags, hats, baby shoes, and more.
In October, she has an exciting photoshoot planned for some of the items in the new collection during Dominica’s Creole Festival, which she plans to attend. Launch details for the upcoming collection will be announced on the brand’s social media platforms.
Tamisha says the future of TamBran is bright. She intends to build a team of local crocheters to ensure the brand’s consistency in production, as well as host crochet workshops to help others learn the craft. “To me, it’s about expanding the brand, while passing on the skills, the culture and the empowerment that comes with making something by hand.”