Bazeley

Senior Pattern Cutter

“Everybody is highly skilled, friendly and hardworking.”

• What does a good day look like in your role?

  A good day for me would definitely be working through a pile of new development sketches. I like to be busy and really enjoy the problem solving aspect of my work. I get a kick out of creating something out of thin air. I use a variety of patterns, making techniques to bring the drawings our designers create to life. It’s always fun working on new ideas with our machinists, fit models and the technology team, to make clothes that are cost effective but, most importantly, look and fit beautifully.

• What does a challenging day look like in your role?

  A challenging day for me would usually involve a lack of time. Things like last minute additions for a deadline, or juggling multiple styles at once, can make my work a challenge. I may have to stop a pattern mid-way to work on something more urgent, or occasionally a style might have been made incorrectly and need altering, which can also be frustrating.

• What do you get up to in a typical day/week?

  In any given week, I’ll meet with designers to work on new styles, advising on feasibility, construction and finishing. I make patterns and mock-ups that we fit together on our in-house model, and I’ll then carry out any amendments needed to make the pattern perfect. As well as pattern making, I also attend fit sessions helping the technology team to assess quality, fit and make. We have weekly departmental meetings and I sit on the committee for our social events and the feedback forum. Once the pattern for a style is completed, I hand it over to our sample cutter and work with our machinists to ensure that the sample they make is clear for our factories to understand. As well as this, I also research fashion shows, trends and new technologies for the enhancement of the pattern room. A few times a year, I also partner with colleges and universities on industry focused projects, which is always really fun and rewarding.

• What’s the best thing about working for AllSaints?

  Our teams make our brand fantastic, but one of the best things about my work specifically is getting to co-create beautiful products. Seeing styles that I have produced perform well in store is really rewarding. It is definitely a team effort, but I get a real sense of pride from knowing that the pattern I created has made something that people want to wear.

• What’s the most surprising or unexpected thing about working for us?

  One of the most surprising things about working at AllSaints has been the opportunities it has given me to partner with external companies and institutions. I have worked with charities, colleges and universities including the Fashion Retail Academy, Lincoln University and Carmarthen School of Art on industry focused projects. After working on one such project with the London College of Fashion, I was asked back to be an external assessor for revalidation of their BA Fashion courses. I was thrilled to be chosen and it’s something I never expected to have the opportunity to do when I joined the brand.

• Why AllSaints?

  AllSaints is a place where everybody is highly skilled, friendly and hardworking. The company offers everybody the opportunity to share ideas and have a voice. The flexibility of the brand and the opportunity it gives for staff to move around is something that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

• What’s not in the job description but something you’d tell a friend if they were looking to join the brand?

  I would say that AllSaints can sometimes be chaotic and pressured but it is also incredibly creative and there is a lot of opportunity to collaborate and move around. Many people working at head office began their AllSaints career in one of our stores, or previously worked in a different role for the brand. It’s great to see movement and adaptation being encouraged.

• Tell us about your journey with AllSaints so far.

  I initially began working for AllSaints in 2015 as a freelancer, and later that year I was offered a permanent position and became senior pattern cutter. During my time here I’ve worked on a variety of collections and small projects including AllSaints Limited, Made in Spitalfields, Shoreditch Ski Club and Creative collections. The core duties associated with my role haven't really changed over time, but I have grown my position to include aspects beyond pattern making. Research and development has become part of my role, overseeing departmental upgrades, identifying new technologies and bringing them to the pattern room including Gerber AccuScan and most recently digital 3D garment creation. Working with external institutions on charitable projects has become another aspect of my job that I really love. It feels great to have co-created a number of bestselling styles, worn by everybody from celebrities to family and friends. During the brand’s most successful year-to-date, I was awarded Employee Of The Year for my contribution to the success of AllSaints, which was a special moment for me.