Profile
Jane Francis is a pluricultural multidisciplinary creative practitioner and academic with over thirty five years’ experience in the fashion industry and fashion design education.
Jane founded her own fashion label in the late 1980’s in Melbourne Australia, designing and producing hand crafted, locally sourced sustainable Australian merino wool knitwear, textiles, jewelry and genderless collections. Initially a small artisanal studio / boutique, the label grew internationally was featured in Vogue Australia, and retailed through Liberty, Hyper-Hyper and Harrods London, Saks and Patricia Field New York. She went on to work full-time professionally for Vivienne Westwood in London, a leading voice in activism and advocate for climate justice through Fashion for over a decade. Working alongside Vivienne driving international brand recognition, creation and production of catwalk presentations, samples and iconic one- off products for the Westwood Gold and Red label collections (with special focus on fashion textile print, accessories, jewelry and footwear) Vivienne Westwood's legacy defined a generation and continues to resonate through culture, fashion practice and thinking today.
Jane has held permanent posts at the University of the Arts London - Central Saint Martins as Senior Lecturer Foundation Studies (Curriculum Leader Fashion & Textiles) and leader of Fashion short course programs and at London College of Fashion as: Program Leader for FDA & BA (Hons) Cordwainer's Fashion Accessories undergraduate program and BA Hons Fashion Design Technology: Footwear & Accessories. In 2012/13 she co-wrote and developed the groundbreaking BA (Hons) Fashion Jewelry course. She has lectured in fashion globally at: BHSAD Moscow, YFMM Mexico City and Ima Istanbul. Currently a member of the full-time faculty community at Parson School of Fashion New York, Jane is an Assistant Professor BFA Fashion Design, and Pathway Leader for the Fashion Product pathway.
From July 2021 to June 2023 Jane was appointed as Associate Director for the BFA Fashion Design Program within the School of Fashion: Parsons.
Jane combines her teaching academic practice and research with freelance consultancy, styling and photography working with many international fashion brands and designers. In 2018 she founded thecovertroom- a location fluid gallery and exhibition space and platform representing new contemporary Art, Illustration and Object by emerging, marginalized and unrepresented practitioners and LGBTQ+ communities in New York, London and Australia.
Jane holds Degree and Graduate qualifications in Fine Art and Teaching & Learning in Art & Design. As a dedicated educator and teacher she was awarded an MA in Academic Practice: Art Design and Communication in Higher Education in July 2023 from the University of the Arts London. Research examined inclusive and progressive cocreation approaches within curriculum design referencing global scholarship in teaching and learning.
Drawing on the experiences gained from working within fine art and fashion industries, Jane informs her academic and educational philosophy: encouraging progressive thinking, innovative, sustainable, socially aware and creative approaches to design for Fashion, through experimental, materials led and practical inquiry: locating the traditions and skills of the practice within a contemporary fashion landscape
Degrees Held
MA : Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication, University of the Arts, London, United Kingdom
MA: Fine Art: Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne University.
Postgraduate Diploma: Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication
University of the Arts, London, United Kingdom
Postgraduate Certificate: Academic Practice in Art, Design and Communication
University of the Arts, London, United Kingdom
Batchelor of Fine Art (Hons): Deakin University, Melbourne Australia
Professional Affiliation
Assistant Professor- Parsons School of Fashion
Associate Director: BFA Fashion Design- Parsons School of Fashion ( 2021- 2023)
CHAIR: BFA Fashion Design- Pathway accreditation committee- Parsons School of Fashion ( 2023-2024)
CHAIR: External Partnership committee- Parsons School of Fashion (2019-2021)
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy -UK
Professional Consultancies:
External Examiner: MA Menswear & MFA Menswear Professional Practice- University of Westminster, London ( 2022 to 2027)
Chief External Examiner: University of Westminster, London ( 2023-2027)
External Advisory Board member: School of Fashion, Academy of Art University, San Francisco ( 2024-ongoing )
Research Interests
Curation & Archival Artifact based Research / Located Making and Craft / Emergent digital design Technology / Sustainability and Ethical Design in Fashion / Progressive Fashion Design Pedagogy, Thinking and Practice
Portfolio
https://www.thecovertroom.com
www.linkedin.com/in/janefrancis
https://www.instagram.com/parsons_fashionproductbfa/?hl=en