Designing Legacy: Tamil on Fashion, Innovation and Building the House Of "AMIAT" 

Interview by Gina Sedman | The Indie Post Magazine Head Editor 

In this insightful conversation, Tamil, a visionary designer and founder of AMIAT (All Moods And All Textiles), discusses the journey behind his unique textile patterns and brand identity. From blending his interior design expertise into fashion to working with major players in the industry, such as the NFL and Reebok, Tamil shares how his designs have adorned icons like Michael Strahan and Allen Iverson. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship, his expansion into footwear and accessories, and the architectural inspiration behind the AMIAT symbol. This interview reveals Tamil's passion for creativity, resilience, and his commitment to pushing boundaries in fashion. 

Gina: Hi, Tamil, how are you doing? 

Tamil: Hi, Gina, I’m blessed. Thank you. And how are you today? 

Gina: You know, Tamil, I’m blessed as well. I can’t complain. God has been so good to me. Thank you for asking. 

Tamil: You’re welcome. Gina, before we get started, I’d like to pray. 

Gina: Absolutely. Let’s go! 

Tamil: Okay. Father God, we just thank You and praise, honor, and magnify Your holy name for this interview and for Gina, who has graciously taken the time to interview me for her publication, The Indie Post Magazine. We give You all the praise and ask that this interview uplifts, enlightens, and spreads the word about what we’re trying to do. All things are in Your hands, and we offer this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Gina: Amen! I love that! Thank you so much. That was awesome! Tamil, it’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you and all the great work you’re doing, so I can’t wait to learn more about your journey in fashion. But before we dive into that, may I ask where you’re from and where you currently live? 

Tamil: Yes, I’m originally from Newark, NJ, but now I live in East Stroudsburg, PA, in the Pocono Mountains. 

Gina: Awesome! Well, welcome to the UK. 

Tamil: I love the UK. I’ve been there a couple of times during my travels, and I’ve been featured in a lot of things over there. The people show me so much love, and I’d love to return soon to shake hands, network, and do more work in London. 

Gina: That would be lovely! The UK is a stunning country with a vibrant creative scene. Now, Tamil, can you share how your early love for fashion, influenced by your uncle and those breakdancing outfits, has shaped your current design perspective? 

Tamil: Well, I grew up in the inner city, so fashion for me was more radical. It wasn’t traditional because we were coming up during the early stages of hip-hop in the ’70s and ’80s. Hip-hop wasn’t fully accepted yet, so we were creating our own style, mixing sports with fashion. 

It was more of a rebellious, expressive thing. I went to art school all my life and attended Arts High School, a performing arts school, kind of like Fame. It was all about music, drama, and fashion. I had some of the best art teachers, and that school was like a second home to me. 

My teacher, Miss Caldwell, was like a second mother. She really nurtured my talent for drawing, sketching, and painting from 8th grade all the way through high school. 

After that, I went to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and later studied interior design, which introduced me to textiles. I mastered airbrushing and explored different artistic techniques, and that’s when things really started evolving. I even opened two airbrush shops where I did custom work. My brand was called TCA—Tamil’s Creative Artware. That’s how my journey into fashion really began. 

Gina: Wow, I’m so proud of you! Not many people set such ambitious goals at a young age and actually achieve them. I’m really proud of you! 

Tamil: Thank you, Gina. 

Gina: You’re welcome, Tamil. Now, when you were younger, did you ever airbrush or put graffiti on buildings? (laughs) 

Tamil: (laughs) Yeah, you know, Gina, I tagged a lot of walls. I did a mural in Newark, NJ, at the West Side Park Community Building. My friend and I went late at night, grabbed some spray cans, and wrote “Newark” on it. I thought they’d take it down, but it stayed up for years until they remodeled the building. 

But as a grown man, I wouldn’t bomb a wall like that again. (laughs) 

Gina: Absolutely! My husband used to breakdance in London as part of an original crew, and he still shares his talent at charity events. His artwork is incredible! Tamil, I’ve noticed how you transitioned from those early artistic beginnings to becoming the designer you are today. Can you walk me through how that transition happened? 

Tamil: Sure! From my early days in art school, I learned all kinds of visual and mixed media arts—watercolor, airbrushing, oil painting, pen and ink techniques. I mastered all of that and put it into context, kind of like how Prince played all the instruments, did the orchestration, and handled the vocals. That’s what I do as well. 

Those skills helped me get freelance projects on 7th Ave. I worked on some major ones that you’d recognize but might not know I was involved in. 

I met my mentor through a seamstress, and he saw my talent. He said, “What are you doing now?” I was working on sports licensing projects with NFL and Reebok, which financially supported my fashion work. But he pushed me to go beyond that, suggesting we start a fashion house. I thought he was crazy—making dresses? That wasn’t where I came from. 

But he showed me that what I was doing—like painting on jeans—was radical, like what hippies did in the ’60s. He said, “You can do more than this.” He saw my potential and mentored me, teaching me about pattern making and fashion design. 

That’s how “AMIAT” was born. We started working on women’s collections—wrap dresses, skirts, pencil skirts, and signature pieces. My mentor encouraged me to create something that represented “AMIAT” without even saying the name, and that’s where the brand took off. It had to be something that, just by looking at it, you instantly recognize the brand.  

That's where I used my interior design textile talents. I created all these different textile patterns—using traditional names like paisleys, plaids, and polka dots. I then incorporated the AMIAT logo into those patterns. 

We have our own floral, paisley, plaids, and flame stitch designs. Today, I’m wearing a Geo pattern, which is a geometrical type of graphic you might see in the linings of the dust covers of bags, embroidered or pillow stitched on leather. I was able to take that same pattern and apply it across all categories of fashion and textiles. It can be printed on knits, dyed into silks, and woven into a pattern. 

Gina: That’s wonderful, Tamil! I’m genuinely thrilled to hear about the incredible journey the Lord has set before you. It’s inspiring how He brought someone into your life to guide you toward the next chapter. Before reaching your current success, you worked with some major players in the industry. Among them, you crafted the uniforms for the NFL Pro Bowl All-Star event, dressing legends like Hall of Famer Michael Strahan, Tom Brady, and Allen Iverson. Could you share some of the other notable individuals you've suited or fitted? 

Tamil: Yes, many “Hall of Famers” have worn my Pro Bowl uniforms and jerseys that I specifically designed for the NFL. Ray Lewis is among them. Any major superstar has probably worn those jerseys twice because the NFL loved the design so much, they used it twice. Initially, Nike didn’t want to put my logo on the jersey because I wasn’t from Nike, but when Reebok took over the contract, they added the logo. So that’s a part of history I’m proud of. 

I also worked on the Allen Iverson collection through Reebok. They reached out to me, asking if I’d like to contribute to the collection. I was pretty much like a hidden secret in the industry for a while. (laughs) 

Gina: Do you design shoes as well? 

Tamil: Yes, I got sneakers and various types of footwear for both men and women. And I also expanded into accessories. I’m looking to move into cosmetics and fragrances too. My mentor, however, didn’t want me to use the word "couture" early on because he felt I wasn’t at that level yet. Many people use that term loosely, but they can't show you a dress, suit, or tracksuit to back it up. We come from the inner city, the hood of Newark, so it was hard for people around me to understand what I was talking about. But now they see it all the time. 

Gina: Absolutely. Tamil, can you tell me what "AMIAT" stands for? 

Tamil: AMIAT stands for "All Moods And All Textiles." 

Gina: The design you’ve displayed across your materials is intriguing. Could you elaborate on its origin? What does it represent? 

Tamil: I created the symbol to represent strength and balance. It’s like an inverted "A." I wanted to architecturally create something that fused all my life experiences—working with architecture, interior design, and fashion. The symbol signifies balance; it’s never tilted, always symmetrical, and can hold or support anything on top of it. It’s versatile—you can even use the shape as the base for a sofa or a bedpost. My mentor taught me to think beyond fashion and into architecture. 

Gina: That's a brilliant analogy. I’m confident you’ll achieve great things. Where can people check out your collection? Do you have any upcoming fashion shows or events? 

Tamil: I’m working on a few things now, although I’m not someone who's always out there. I let my work speak for itself. But I do have a couple of TV interviews coming up. In the meantime, people can check out my Instagram and see my work with accessories, fabrics, and apparel. I do intend to showcase more soon. 

Gina: Sounds amazing! Lastly, can you give some words of inspiration to up-and-coming fashion designers? 

Tamil: It may sound cliché, but you have to go through experiences to grow. I was fortunate to have mentors, and that’s the advice I’d give—get a mentor who really knows the industry. Surround yourself with people who know what they’re doing. Like musicians in jam sessions, you have to collaborate and be open, even in streetwear, which is so raw. You need to incorporate other elements into your designs, so seek guidance from someone knowledgeable. 

Gina: Great advice. How can people find out more about you? 

Tamil: They can visit my Instagram: www.instagram.com/tamilinternational or www.amiatluxury.com.  

Gina: Thank you so much, Tamil. It’s been an honor speaking with you. My prayer is that God continues to bless your journey, bring supportive people into your life, and keep you and your family safe. I’m proud of all you’ve accomplished and will continue rooting for your success. 

Tamil: Thank you so much. I appreciate it. God bless you. 

Gina: God bless you, Tamil. Take care.