Technician Demonstrator (Fashion Design)
e:BCWillicombe@cardiffmet.ac.uk
t: 02920 416742
Specialist Subject Area
FASHION DESIGN INDUSTRY
Areas of expertise lay in Pattern Cutting, Draping and Grading. Garment Construction at both Industry and Haute Couture level.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Fashion Design
BTEC ND Fashion Design
Biography
After graduating in 1996 from the University of Wales, Bethan started her career in Fashion by working as a Junior Designer for the London based Children’s wear mail order company, Zed. This role gave her various experiences in many departments, anything from sourcing fabrics, designing, pattern cutting, factory visits to QC all taking part in developing Bethan’s skills. While working at Zed, a weekend opportunity arose to work at Vivienne Westwood as part of the construction team working on garments for London Fashion week. This opportunity led to Bethan gaining a full-time position there as ‘Production Assistant to the Gold Label’. While there, she was part of the lead team who created a CMT Unit based at the head office producing all jersey lines while overseeing all other lines being produced in Italy.
Bethan then decided to enter the world of costume where she worked for Angels the Costumiers, who are world known as Costumiers to the entertainment industry. Again, joining their production department she worked on various projects for Film, TV and Theatre. Working alongside many Oscar winning Costume designers such as Sandy Powell, Janty Yates, John Mollo, Deborah Scott and Lindy Hemming Bethan’s love for attention to detail developed. She got the chance to work on amazing productions, Gangs of New York, Enemy at the Gate, The Patriot, Hornblower to name just a few. Claims to fame while there was designing the flower girls/bridesmaids for Victoria Beckham and probably one of the highlights was measuring Ioan Gruffydd’s feet for Hornblower!!!
After returning home and starting a family, Bethan then entered the Further Education sector where her love lies in passing on her skills through Creative Pattern Cutting and Garment construction. Constantly updating her skills as to keep up with industry is something Bethan prides herself in doing. Working with students and seeing them develop into successful designers is what drives her passion.
Enterprise Projects &/or industrial links
Practice based - practice led research
2015 Concept to Market - Conducted a Strategic Insight Placement (SIP) – to Dhaka Bangladesh-visiting factories/manufacturing textile mills facilities to source production and establishing links with industry and develop international links. Working as Production mentor to client Shelim Hussain, MBE to `create a new welsh brand with ethical & sustainability at its heart, a `FAIR Clothing Label’.
The challenge set for the students & staff was a research project brief `PROJECT X’ to create the new clothing brand. The Field study research trip included staff and students to research and source ethical production in Dhaka Bangladesh. Students work interdisciplinary in teams to develop and create the new welsh designer brand, `TYMOR’ Welsh for `Seasons’, developed from market research identifying a gap in the market for 35+middle market consumers.
Impact of the research updated knowledge in new technologies in manufacturing & production - Green – ethical - eco credentials. Three graduate design jobs were created, and a research steering group was set up to focus on Bangladeshi garment industry supply chain – professionals in Law, Accounting, Finance, Business, Design Schools investigating the Bangladeshi garment industry with a particular focus on the legal, ethical and financial aspects of the supply chain surrounding the garment industry.
Awards
2015 USW – Student Led Teaching Award
2014 USW – Unsung Hero Award – Student Experience Staff Award
