Course: BA (Hons) Costume
A third-generation tailor born into a family of tailors and seamstresses, Jay François-Campbell began her garment construction journey at the age of seven.
Since leaving AUB, she has worked her way up the costume ladder by working for many well-known costume companies, and taking on additional studies to become a professional pattern cutter and senior theatrical tailor for the Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet on innumerable well-known productions for many years. She has also made costumes for Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Having worked as a visiting lecturer, adult education tutor, degree level examination assessor and public speaker in several prestigious institutions, Jay specialises in theatrical and performance tailoring for men and women. She has worked on major West End productions, including The Lion King, Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, and made garments for television, haute couture, fashion, film, and dance for more than three decades.
Jay is the author of two industry textbooks – Simple Tailoring and Alterations – and her latest book, The Waistcoat Workbook, charts the history of the waistcoat from 1837 to the present. She conducts public speaking engagements in relation to her publications.
Jay currently manages the tailoring department at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in Sussex as head tailor and senior cutter, where she manages a team of 10 tailors.
