Sally Blake
Swimwear and Stretchwear Specialist
Consultancy, Design, CAD, Pattern Cutting, Technical
I am a very experienced and enthusiastic freelance designer and pattern maker, specialising in swimwear, athleisure and dancewear. Skills include liaising with clients at all levels, including start-ups; AI CAD design, sourcing of fabrics and trims; creating patterns, specs and tech packs; advising on balanced product ranges. Confident with colours, prints and trends.
Technical support includes size specs, fitting, grading sizes, factory liaison, preparation for production.
SALLY BLAKE SWIMWEAR FITNESSWEAR DANCEWEAR
Consultancy, Design, CAD, Pattern Cutting, Technical
I am a very experienced freelance designer and creative pattern cutter, specialising in sports and fashion swimwear, athleisure, fitnesswear + dancewear.
I can take projects from design concept, source fabrics, trims; make accurate CADs and tech packs; pattern cut first patterns and updates; client fittings; source sample makers and factories; liaise re first prototype samples through to production; grade sizes + direct digital patterns; technical liaison with factories in UK, Europe, Far East.
I work confidently with colour + trends, creating balanced product ranges.
I can communicate with businesses of all sizes and liaise with buyers at all levels.
I help many startup companies and inventors develop their business from initial ideas to production.
I have great enthusiasm for this specialist field and enjoy new challenges.
KEY SKILLS
Consultancy, Design, CAD, Range planning, Pattern Cutting, Manual Grading, Technical support
Adobe illustrator/Photoshop. Microsoft Word/Excel
BA Hons 2.1 Contour Fashion
De Montfort University. Full driving licence
FREELANCE EXPERIENCE
Clients include: Jag London luxury beachwear CADs, patterns, consultation; Zone3 swim + triathlon fit consultations; Afina London designer swim patterns / specs; Ivincia: luxury tenniswear patterns; Cyclista: on trend cyclewear; Hussein Chalayan: Mens + womens swimwear;
Suki Shufu Athleisure clothing range design, CADs, line sheets, patterns;
Tenola triathlon brand creation; Zennor surf bikinis; Kimberley Garner designer swimwear; Lick mens designer underwear + swimwear; UK Swimstore “cover up” swimwear; Different for Girls development of cup sized swimwear: design, patterns, technical support; Goldwater gymnastic and swimwear designs, placement print development
Long term clients include:
Sunuva (London 2011 – current) Luxury beachwear and swimwear brand for kids: CAD design + range development, patterns, technical design, tech packs, product sourcing and factory liaison including China, Tunisia, Turkey, India
Samantha Sage (London 2003 – current) Retro designer collection, including ladies, teens, kids and baby swimwear: design, patterns and website layout + PR copy
Pure Lime (Denmark 2007 – 2016) Danish activewear brand: tenniswear, leisurewear, yoga, running, gymwear: trend research and design for 2009 -2017 ranges
Rhona Sutton (New York 2008 – 2012) CAD design, patterns for high end glamorous swimwear + cover ups; contract development customer liaison Boots, Blooming Marvellous, Disney USA + UK adult, boys, girls, babies. Far East factory visits, sourcing fairs HK + China.
Zoggs (Surrey UK 2002-2008) performance and leisure swimwear:design + technical support for ladies + mens, maternity styles + liaison of cup size swimwear for Bravissimo.
Designer projects include: Ava Verdu design interpretation for premium swimwear; Issa print designer swimwear range; Bboy William Baker mens swimwear; Jenny Packham London Fashion Week collections; Anya Hindmarch swimwear collection; Mitre England netball dress -Madeleine Press; Amanda Wakeley designing, fabric sourcing, overseeing production of designer swimwear; Sam de Teran innovative ski + sportswear.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
I B Leisurewear: Senior swimwear designer/sales liaison with Debenhams Top Shop H & M; athletic swimwear for Hind USA. Courtaulds Clothing: Senior swim designer for M & S + BHS adult’s and children’s departments .
Sally A. Blake
Email: sally@fashionweb.co.uk
Tel: 01223 719543 – Mobile: 07973 725268