Industry Experience
The Purple Haired Costumer
June 2021 - Present
After finishing my MA in Costume Making and having had work experience with an extremely talented costume freelancer, I decided to set up my own freelance business. If you are curious, you are more than welcome to look at my costume portfolio below.
Through "The Purple Haired Costumer", I refined my skills within pattern drafting, fitting to a performer, alterations, made-to-measure clothing, garment construction and working with a wide range of materials and componentry.
Garment Technician - CurveWow
July 2024 - February 2025
During my time working at CurveWow, it was essential to work with a variety of different people, including: my team, suppliers, fashion buyers and a wide range of creative individuals to ensure high quality merchandise. I have found it essential to have a broad range of knowledge around the construction of garments/fabrics, finishings and quality. I have confidently conducted fit sessions to best capture the fashion buyer’s vision, without compromising comfort. After fit sessions, sometimes it we needed to change the sizing specifications and grading charts based on the fit session results and relay this to the relevant supplier.
In this role, I also needed to manage the deadlines for both the company and several supplier’s schedule simultaneously. This was achieved by keeping the critical path up to date and implementing prompt and frequent communication with suppliers, to best nurture a healthy business relationship. Communication with suppliers included tech packs, detailed fit comments, queries relating to componentry/trim, but also approval of branded finishings, such as: swing tags, care labels, SKU stickers, branded labels and size pips. I also managed important financial documentation, such as: Bill of Lading, componentry costing negotiations, invoices, deposit slips and shipping documentation. Through this opportunity, I have had the pleasure to work with suppliers from UK, China, Pakistan, Morocco & India.
Designer - Industry Given Projects - Interview
Net World Sports - April 2023 & Manière De Voir - February 2023
These projects where requested by the named companies as a project to be submitted for interview. (Net World Sports was unfinished as I was unable to delegate as much time as they needed, at that time).
Please click links below for further information.
Textile Designer - OpenHouse Products
August 2022 - April 2023
During my time at OpenHouse, I instigated a lot of departmental solutions to help enhance the design process; to maintain premium quality products in a decreased time frame. The methods included the introduction of ClickUp (like Trello), a “product data” spreadsheet and introducing a “CAD library”. The CAD library allowed us to make 2D product mock-ups in less time, due to basic componentry (branded zips etc), already being illustrated and thus able, to be dragged and dropped as required.
I also led meetings with clients to discuss their specific requirements/needs. One of these meetings led to an increase in order units of 1233% after the client saw the first prototype (30 to 400 units). Through working here, I also maintained documentation, such as: Bill of Materials, Production Timing Estimates, Trim Lists and Print & Pattern layouts.
I worked with a variety of different machines, including a Lectra Modaris cutting table, digital vinyl cutter, welding press and heat presses along with computer programs: Abobe Illustrator, ClickUp, Modaris and Outlook.
Assistant Garment Technician - Club L London
March 2022 - May 2022
My first job within the fashion industry was at Club L London in Manchester. I worked as an Assistant Garment Technician and assisted the team with ensuring product quality. A large part of my job was to maintain the critical path (using Trello), measuring samples accurately, assisting with garment storage for shoots and stock check, updating work notes with relevant notes from fit sessions, assisting with visual displays and general organisation.
Designer - Industry Given Projects - Interview
International Garment Group - January 2022
In January 2022, I had an interview with International Garment Group who requested a design project of a CAD line up, evidence of market research and submission of a tech pack for one of the proposed designs.
Please click below for further information.
University Experience - MA Costume Making
MA Costume Making
September 2020 - September 2021
After finishing my BA, I wanted to further my education. My BA gave me a very strong foundation in the manufacture of clothing from a commercial point of view and the process needed for bulk manufacture. My MA in Costume Making focused more on the construction element of the garments and relevant techniques (from a variety of time periods) to visualise the design.
Through this course, I worked with industry specialists that helped progress and develop my skills as a seamstress. This further enhanced my knowledge of materials and their relevant componentry. I also had the opportunity of working with a wide range of immensely creative individuals and we developed a ethos of community learning.
The Final Project for my MA was a collaboration with the MA actors on a production called "Things Lost". It's focal point was loss in every sense of the word, from losing someone to sickness, to lost property and even to when words lose their meaning.
This course led to the freelance contract label of The Purple Haired Costumer (please see above).
University Experience - BA Contour Fashion
FMP (Final Major Project) - Japanese Loungewear
2019
For my FMP (Final Major Project) for my BA, I found inspiration within Japanese culture and wanted to generate a soft loungewear/lingerie collection that was inspired by this culture, but also gleaned inspiration in a textural format. I was captivated by the textures of birds, butterflies and any "delicate" animal in nature and their presentation of feminine energy.
I worked with a variety of difficult fabrics, such as: bilight, satin, silk and mesh. I worked on feathering/fraying elements and creating a soft but structural concept. All items where pattern drafted from scratch and made to measure my model.
Fun fact: My "Hero" piece was constructed on 74 pattern pieces.
If you would like further information, please click the link below.
Client Brief - Gymshark
2019
In second year of my BA, one of the projects was to work with an industry giant either in lingerie or sportswear. I decided to opt for Gymshark as sportswear was not covered in the usual Contour Fashion syllabus. I have a passion for acquiring new skills and expanding my skillset, whenever I am given the opportunity to do so.
I had a strong idea from the start of what I wanted to create: an all-in-one jumpsuit, with support and with zero-fastenings. This took a lot of trial and error as it was not a current item within industry and I endeavoured to balance support and elasticity. Through this project, I was able to explore other creative avenues, such as print design and CAD Illustration.
This was a huge passion project and one of my favourites to date, please click the link below for further information.
Cabinet of Curiosities - Steampunk
2018
Swimwear Rotation - Winter Vs Spring
2018
Modaris Module - Submission
2018
Corset Rotation - Nature Vs Architecture
2017
Other Relevant Projects/Experience
Textile Recycling Initiative (That Ghost Needs Glasses)
September 2024 - Present
After working in the fashion industry for a couple of years and most recently within a fast-fashion role, I started to look for ways to help reduce the amount of materials ending in landfill and thus generated the brand "That Ghost Needs Glasses", that makes soft case glasses cases and book sleeves.
