Grace Driver Email & Phone Number

London, England, United Kingdom

London, England, United Kingdom

Multi product garment technician managing performance tops and developing a new lifestyle collection including mix of wovens, jersey, knitwear, outerwear, dresses and bottoms. Leads fit sessions including trips to New York to fit SRS with the lifestyle design team. This involves having an in depth knowledge of the collection including testing for new fabrics and awareness of the design aesthetic.Work closely with raw materials team to develop new fabrics that meet technical performance requirements.Manage labelling and testing approval. I work with suppliers to improve any failed testing where possible and if not I’m able to use experience to judge what would be commercial.

London, United Kingdom

Manage garment development for Womenswear Woven Tops on Woven Softs product area. Create initial design packs consisting of comprehensive measurement spec and construction sheet.Lead fit sessions to ensure fit is good and making suggestions on construction details or cost solutions.Send fit comments - following fits send comprehensive fit comments to suppliers explaining the changes we want to make, using CAD diagrams and images to explain comments. Approve specs to production reviewing grading to ensure garment fit will be accurate for each size. Attend CP meetings to ensure the key deadlines are met and the product is delivered on time. When issues arrive working closely with the buyers and merchandisers to resolve the problem.Work closely with the fabric sourcer to develop new fabrics and review initial testing and fabric performance.Review bulk testing from suppliers, where fabrics fail review to see if could be commercial or work with suppliers to suggest ways to improve. AQL management - review quality issues of bulk to make decisions on whether issues could be commercial or to set acceptable tolerances. Liaise with Quality Control team and suppliers through the AQL process to ensure we are all working together to get the best quality products in on time. Monthly returns analysis. Write a monthly report on returns for the department to highlight potential issues relating to fit and customer buying changes. Supplier progress management. Analysing suppliers performance throughout the year.Online fit guide project - leading a project to improve the way we describe fit to the customer online through developing dresses shape guides and jeans style guides. Attended trip to Turkish suppliers - assist senior GT to review production samples and assess factories capabilities. Visited denim wash house to learn about wash techniques and processes.

•Working closely with the design team to source a range of fabrics and trims. This included trips to Premiere Vision Paris and the London Textiles Fair.•Building good working relationships with oversees and local fabric and trims suppliers.•Ordering and shipping fabrics and trims from mills to factories based prodominently in the UK, Portugal and Poland.•Liasing with factories to ensure that the production schedule was met and the finished product was of the high quality standard expected.•Keeping track of orders, invoices and payments.•Communicating with the studio team, including two designers, production manager and two in house pattern cutters, to ensure that alterations through the development stage are followed through.•Creating the production schedule taking into account a range of lead times to ensure that all components of the finished garment will arrive at the factory in sync.•Problem solving when there are unexpected alterations in the schedule.

I was a studio intern at Holly Fulton in the run up to London Fashion Week. This involved working in a busy, high pressure environment where I was entrusted to be efficient and communicate with the rest of the team to prioritise tasks logically. My duties included:•Running errands to suppliers, manufacturers and clients•Hand sewing•Cutting samples •Working out efficient lay plans in order to be most cost effective. •Working backstage at the London Fashion Week show, doing minor last minute sewing alterations, dressing the models.

Worked as a studio intern throughout the summer becoming a key member of the team and being entrusted with a variety of tasks. I worked closely with the Product Developer and Production Manager using my natural organization skills to help maintain the production schedul. My responsibilities included:•Assisting with the freelance pattern cutter to make alterations•Sewing sample toiles •Liaising with manufacturers and suppliers to get updates on lead times •Keeping track of fabric and trim delivery dates to coordinate with production schedule•Using CAD skills to make factory docket•Helping with the general running of the studio•Going to Factories to carry out quality control checks.

Ba Fashion Atelier, Fashion/Apparel Design

Education record