Michelle Fray’s love of fashion began at 14.

It was the early 80s and she would model every weekend.

“You had some really great boutiques that sort of spearheaded this whole fashion movement,” she said. “It was like the Renaissance, in a sense. People really dressed then. It’s so different now, it’s very casual, but back then everybody dressed.”

The former model and designer has opened a new studio in Hamilton. She closed a Front Street location seven years ago when she took a teaching job at CedarBridge Academy.

While she still offers the custom clothing service she’s known for, her new focus is alterations. It allows room for her full-time position at Boutique CC.

Ms Fray studied fashion design in London before heading to New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology in 1989. While there, she landed “a fabulous internship” with then “hot designer” Byron Lars.

“That’s when I really got to see how the fashion industry worked. It was a great learning experience,” she remembered.

She gained industry experience in New York and Los Angeles, and then returned to Bermuda and worked for Gibbons Company.

The department store plays a huge role in her fashion design summer camp, which has been running for six years. Over six weeks, Ms Fray teaches sketching, textiles, how to use a sewing machine and fashion history.

“One of the highlights is coming into town to Gibbons Company to purchase the fabric. It’s very exciting. That’s when they get to explore their creativity,” she said.

While the work is rewarding, Ms Fray hopes to get back into her studio full-time to offer custom made bridal attire, clothing and alterations.

“But my ultimate of ultimate goals is to have my own resort collection,” she said. “I’ve been working on that for about ten years.”

When she and her husband, George Morton, were in Paris years ago, she was enchanted by the fabrics at Première Vision, a textile show for fashion professionals.

“We found the most beautiful silk fabric that will be perfect for my collection. It’s a very small family-owned business. I made a great connection with this gentleman.

“I like to use only natural fabrics like silk and linen because of the quality. Of course it affects the fit of a garment, how it hangs — it makes all the difference.”

She’s already designed her first collection.

“I just need to do it,” she said. “But as a mother of three children, we are always putting our own aspirations aside because there are school fees to pay and violin lessons and all the rest.”

Her daughters Celine, 18, and Chloe, 10, are named after French fashion houses. Chase, 6, is the exception.

“Chase was supposed to be called Christian after another French fashion house, Christian Lacroix, but when he was born, I said, ‘He doesn’t look like a Christian. I think Chase better suits him’,” she laughed.

Her collection claims that same Gallic influence.

“It’s very European tailoring. You’re not going to find a wash and wear. This is more of an evening collection,” she said.

“St Tropez, St Barths, Bermuda — that sort of look. It’s very luxurious fabrics and designs, very tailored, so it’s not something you throw on when you go to the beach.”

Her line does include one kaftan, she confessed.

“But it’s still very luxurious. It’s something that you could wear to dinner. It’s the Bermuda tourism of yesteryear — it’s a very glamorous collection.”

The 47-year-old was a teenager when she started modelling for Terry Smith’s Tee L Productions.

“I fell in love with fashion from there, but as a kid my mom used to sew for us as a family. We were like the Jackson 5, because there were five kids and on Easter Sunday we’d be all dressed alike. The only one who wasn’t dressed like us was my dad, but he was colour coordinated because that was the thing to do,” she laughed.

“We were like that for every occasion. We have pictures of us from the tallest right down to the littlest. My mother was immaculate. She made sure that we were always beautifully dressed.”

The internet changed everything, she said.

“Now with online shopping, people don’t sew like they used to, but back then everyone sewed. We had stores like Fashion Fabric where people would buy patterns, commercial patterns and you could buy fabrics,” she added.

The designer would sit by her mother Madelyn Fray while she worked, fashioning her own dolls’ clothes.

“I guess that’s where it started. I would sketch, my mom would make my patterns, she would cut garments out and then she would sew for me.

“We were a team in the beginning and we still are. I’ve taken her on many trips overseas looking for fabrics,” she said.

She also credits her brother Jo Jo Fray, a key member of her “team”.

“[He] has been instrumental in my entire career. He’s been very supportive. We’re very close and financially he’s been my backer through all of this.

“Over the years, he’s been a phenomenal brother; he’s just a phenomenal person.”

Ms Fray added: “I love what I do. I enjoy establishing relationships with my clients and my designers at my summer fashion camp. Each and every day, these young designers inspire me to be a better designer, a better teacher, a better mother and a better person.”

What: Michelle Fray

Where: 6 Burnaby Street, Hamilton

Open: Tuesdays from 9am-6.15pm, Wednesdays & Fridays from 5.30pm-7.15pm, and by appointment.

Info: michellefrayds@gmail.com, (441) 599-9763

Facebook: Michelle Fray