About
Hi, I’m Helen
I help activewear and sportswear founders turn product vision into collections that actually get made.
With 20+ years leading design at some of the UK's most recognised performance brands. I've built brand DNA from scratch, defined range architecture, and delivered factory-ready collections, which customers and media give 5*s.
EXPERIENCE
SPECIALISM
Fabric and trim knowledge including a wide range of sustainable sources and processes. All things lifestyle, sportswear & performance, a womenswear specialist who has also worked in menswear and childrenswear. Active garment engineering and lifestyle luxury details. Swimwear and beach collections and cold technical outerwear.
FACTORIES
UK, Portugal, Turkey, Taiwan and China. Extensive European fabric mill contacts.
TOOLS
Illustator, Photoshop, Firefly, Clo 3D, Claude, PLM systems.
BASED
Marks and Spencer, Diadora, sweatyBetty, My Protein, JD Sports, Technicals, Audimas, Imperfect Pointes, Castore, Nerds Collective, Emello, BDA London, Just Strong amongst others.
Manchester, UK. Working in client offices and remotely.
I think communication is the key to a successful collaboration.
Clear project summary that we agree on before work starts.
Concise, structured updates with required outputs, so we all know where we are.
Visual updates through mood boards, photographs, annotated drawings to explain each stage.
Pre-agreed update timeline, so you feel that you are part of the journey all the way through.
This also includes pre-agreed update feedback process and number of revisions. You can expect from me an end-to-end technical execution, with honest feedback on capabilities and possible hurdles. A guide to a typical roadmap is:
Discovery & Brief: Defining performance requirements, target market, brand aesthetic, and technical constraints.
Concept & Mood Board: Clear sketches, colour palettes, and material/trim selection.
CADs & Tech Packs: Detailed flat sketches, BOMs (Bill of Materials), and specs ready for sampling.
Sampling & Refinement: Reviewing physical prototypes (if applicable) and adjusting specs accordingly.
A sounding board & knowledge bank: I can listen and advise on your vision, strategy and I am happy to recommend other experts that you may require.
Got a range to design ?
Send a short brief, it takes two minutes.
Services
Concept Design
Tech Packs and size specs
End-to-end development
Other services
Performance apparel, swimwear, and lifestyle ranges from sketch to factory-ready development packs.
Concepts, tech packs and development for brands, startups, clubs and manufacturers.