Our Story
Two Generations,
One Thread
Tessa Fay is an American independent designer brand specializing in handmade clothing for the feminine eclectic. Founded in 2020 and sourced from vintage and deadstock upholstery and drapery fabrics, each garment is sustainably handmade by Tessa Thompson and team in their Nashville based studio.
Tessa attributes most of her dress-making knowledge to her grandmother, Fay, who taught her to sew and did the handwork on the original dresses that started the brand. The southern grandmother-granddaughter duo ensures unique feminine and timeless styles, heirloom quality and craftsmanship, and clothing pieces guaranteed to give you butterflies and make you dance in your bathroom mirror.
The Process
From Someone's Home to Yours
Every piece begins at estate sales, thrift stores, and fabric dealers. The team hunts for upholstery and drapery with character: florals, brocades, toiles, and stripes that have already lived a life. They drape directly on the form, letting the weight and pattern of each fabric guide the silhouette. No two pieces are ever the same because no two fabrics are ever the same.
Today Tessa and team work from their Nashville studio, but the process hasn't changed. Tessa still cuts every pattern. The clothes are still made one at a time. Fay did the handwork on the original dresses that started the brand, and that commitment to heirloom quality and craftsmanship runs through every garment.
Handmade
Upcycled
One of a Kind
Salvaged Fabrics
Heirloom Quality