Faculty

Profile

Jane Francis is a multidisciplinary designer, creative practitioner and image maker 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, designing and producing hand crafted 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, London for over a decade, 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 accessories, jewelry and footwear. 

She 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: Course Leader for FDA & BA (Hons) Cordwainer's Fashion Accessories courses and BA Hons Fashion Design Technology: Footwear & Accessories. In 2012/13 she co-wrote and developed the groundbreaking BA (Hons) Fashion Jewelry course. Jane 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 coordinator of the Fashion Product pathway. 

in July 2021 Jane progressed to a new role 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 presenting new contemporary Art, Illustration and Object in New York.

Jane holds Degree and Post Graduate qualifications in Fine Art and Teaching & Learning in Art & Design, she was awarded an MA in Academic Practice: Art Design and Communication in Higher Education in January 2023 from the University of the Arts London 

Drawing on the experiences gained from working within fine art and fashion industries, Jane informs her academic and educational ethos:  encouraging progressive thinking, innovative, sustainable, globally aware and creative approaches to design for Fashion, through experimental, academic and practical inquiry: locating the traditions and skills of the practice within a contemporary fashion landscape. 

Professional Affiliation

Associate Director: BFA Fashion Design- Parsons School of Fashion ( 2021- Current) 

CHAIR: Parsons School of Fashion: External Partnesrship committee- 2019-2021

Assistant Professor- Parsons School of Fashion

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy -UK

External Examiner: MA Menswear & MFA Menswear Professional Practice- University of Westminster, London ( 2022 to 2027)

Research Interests

Curation / Archival Research / Craft / Technology / Sustainiblity and Ethical Design in Fashion / Fashion Design Thinking and Pratice 

Portfolio

https://www.thecovertroom.com