WHY I JUMPED OFF THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY...

At first, the frantic hamster-wheel pace was very appealing. But with time I began to think differently about what fashion meant to me. Why did I have to create multiple collections and dispose of so much every year? Why was ‘constant change’ better than ‘slow and steady’?

This was the start of my journey as an educator, where I aspired to slow things down and share my creative knowledge and experience with a different audience.

FROM DESIGNER TO EDUCATOR...

I believe students thrive when led by example, and that a tutor who works in industry, regularly publishes work, champions sustainable fashion and offers an interesting learning experience is fundamental to encouraging this. I freelance as a creative pattern cutter, of late at Alexander McQueen, write for online fashion magazines, and develop learning resources for fashion creatives.

When I think of design it's from a different perspective. Now when I work, I ask myself "What can my students learn from this?” There is a purpose to the items I create which are used by makers who can sew but are hesitant to go further. Knowing that I can help them realise that pattern cutting doesn't have to involve complicated maths and lots of boring fiddling around makes me really happy.

THE BEST OUTCOME OF ALL...

I would not have become an educator if I hadn't started out as a designer and discovered my passion for creative pattern cutting. Hearing from people who have been stopped dead in their tracks because they have used my kits and now have ideas AND the newfound powers to create them, is one of the best things to have come out of my spin in the fashion hamster wheel.

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