Henri Lloyd Placement

I begin work at Henri Lloyd on June 21st. I really can't wait to get there and learn so much about the industry! Should be a great few months.

Henri Lloyd Presentation (2nd Visit)

Last week I had the opportunity to go back in to the Henri Lloyd design studio and present my Final Major Project to Design Manager Rob Charnley, and the 3 main designers of the company. I began by showing a power point presentation which included information about my influences, and how I had developed these influences into designs suitable for contemporary menswear. I presented my portfolio and sketchbook to the group then and discussed exactly how I had approached my spec sheets and showed them my examples of outfit sheets and discussed how I wanted to set a scene and a mood for each individual outfit. Rob's main piece of feedback was to tell me how my design development and how I translate an idea was done brilliantly. Rob liked how I could take a single shape or line from an image and develop it into a really slick design. He told me that Henri Lloyd were always trying to push the boundaries whilst keeping true to their identity. He said that what his design team struggle with is what I have been able to do at certain points throughout my project, and that was to create an idea that was suited for the company by just looking at something small and quite obscure like a bit of boat decking for instance. Rob liked how I had portrayed my outfit sheets and how I showed off the style and look of my collection. He also commented on one pair of shoes which he really liked, and he commented on them by saying to his design team, "That is how you design a shoe".

The presentation went well and after I had concluded my talk, we all sat round and discussed what I had spoken about. The design team gave me some great feedback about my spec sheets and told me that having the knowledge of producing a spec sheet at graduate level is really refreshing, because usually when a graduate has gone into Henri Lloyd for work experience in the past they have never even seen a spec sheet before.

We discussed a possible work placement at the company and Rob told me to stay in touch with him regarding a placement there. He told me that he would definitely like to get me in to do some work and will now try to evaluate the companies budget and work out how to fit me in to the set-up.

The shoes in discussion:

Design influenced from decking:

Henri Lloyd Visit

Today I visited the Henri Lloyd studio on the outskirts of Salford. I met with their designer Rob Charnley who I contacted through Helen Latimer. I arrived at the studio at 9.am and met with Rob and we sat down and began a discussion about exactly what I do at university, how I came in contact with Helen Latimer (his ex colleague at Umbro) and began speaking about a possible work placement opportunity for me. We continued our chat over a cup of tea and then Rob took me down to the design team. In the studio I met Rob's boss Craig and 3 other members of the design team. Craig called his team over to the meeting desk and asked them all to listen to me present my work. I felt confident because of the way Craig and Rob had greeted me on my arrival, and the design team were very friendly. Craig asked me to explain to the group where I studied, what I do, where i live, and tell them as much about myself as possible. Then he allowed me the opportunity to present my work to the team. I gathered round the desk with designers and firstly presented my Fred Perry project (which I am currently working on). I showed my influences, a few of my designs and a few spec sheets along with my sketchbook, I then showed my Lyle & Scott brief and explained how I had improved as a designer this year. They seemed impressed with what I had produced and admired my thought process and could clearly see where my ideas developed from. Craig then asked me to stay in touch with Rob and come back into the studio in a few weeks to do a formal presentation in the boardroom and then they will give me feedback on my work, offer me help and discuss a work placement schedule.

A Monday morning visit to Henri Lloyd..

I have been in contact with a designer from Henri Lloyd, Rob Charnley, regarding a studio visit and possible work placement. Helen Latimer who is another of my contacts in the industry has kindly forwarded me the details of Rob. I emailed Rob some work over straight away and introduced myself and my influences and told him what my area of design was. Rob replied quite soon after and asked me if I was available for a work placement and said he is happy for me to visit the studio and present my portfolio and any other design development to him and his design team. I continued discussions with Rob and I am really excited after confirming a visit on Monday 29th March at 9 a.m.

Continued Contact with Helen Latimer...

Helen has kindly given me contact details for a designer called Rob Charnley who works at Henri Lloyd, He spoke to Helen asking what I do? If I am into sportswear/streetwear? He also told Helen that he is happy for me to contact him and whether or not I can email him some design work over.

I have just sent an email to Rob which explains my current project and I have attached some working sheets that show my designs, visualizations and inspirations. I forwarded the email to Helen before I sent it over to Rob and she replied to me with some very helpful advice about layout as you can see in the image below.



Despite of her busy workload, Helen kindly sent me some ideas of how to approach creating a spec sheet layout. I will use this style of layout in the future when sending work to employers or people in the industry as it looks like it has been produced at a professional standard by a very informed designer.




Helen has also sent me a sheet which demonstrates ideas about how I could possibly present my range plan and show how my garments can be worn together. Helen has reminded me to show back views of my garments because we had discussed this when I showed Helen my portfolio.

Contact Report: Helen Latimer & Nigel Warren

After I completed my last brief, which was to design a range for Lyle & Scott I presented my finished collection to Helen Latimer and Nigel Warren. Helen has designed for Umbro, Le coq sportif and Sergio Tacchini amongst others. Nigel is working for Mosquito and has a history of working at Whittards tea & coffee.

Together they viewed my collection, portfolio and DVD whilst I discussed my design process and finished outcomes. They then together discussed my presentation and work and I received feedback shortly after from what Helen and Nigel had said combined.

The feedback was given to me in a list, which read:

• DVD research ideas are great, as industry use this media. Consider putting into book format as to avoid technical problems & allow industry to see your work easily.

• Blown up images (Large designs) on boards looked fantastic – Arty feel.

• Market research good, fabric and application research helped to explain ideas.

• Understood brief, designs fitted clients style. Really good felt the project was clear and met brief.

• Push how designs can work as a collection/range.

• Look at details on garments, i.e. stitch details etc. Also badge applications, what’s new in the market?

• Explain graphic application – print, embroidery, yarns, dye etc.


I’m delighted with this feedback, and alongside the feedback I was given from John Tate at Lyle & Scott, it’s really helpful to me as I approach my final project. Feedback from the industry is the only way I will improve as a designer and become produce more professional output.

After I received this feedback from Helen and Nigel, I was in contact with Helen again and she sat down with me to discuss my portfolio and show me hers. She offered me advice as to how I would present a collection to an employer. Helen suggested that I should literally show 6 sheets of work from a collection, 2 sheets of photographic research and influence, 2 sheets of my most successful designs and visualizations, an example of a spec sheets and a sheet that shows how my garments would be used together as an outfit. Helen's portfolio was similar, she had a variety of her different jobs and collections in one portfolio and showed examples of her skills on illustrator, her understanding of fabrics and their constructions and her portfolio was so concise and informative with design skills.

I met with Helen again the week after, and she showed me examples how she has produced a check repeat on illustrator and she explained to me the technique used to produce it. I then practised this technique throughout the day whilst discussing my major project with Helen. She gave me some very interesting pointers, suggesting that instead of designing for an existing brand, I could create my own which would specialize in the the themes I was interested in. I hope to stay in touch with Helen because her advice was very useful and I believe that she could be very helpful for me in discovering new contacts in this area of design who could hopefully keep offering me advice and opportunities.

Contact Report: John Tate at Lyle & Scott

I was waiting so long for a great opportunity like the one I had on 25th January, a visit to a design studio, a chance to see what was the day to day routine of working in fashion, to see how the professional mind works and ask numerous questions that would allow me to only improve as a practitioner.

It was not just any old studio that I visited that day though, It was the company I had been interested in for years, a brand that I shop for on the high street, and finding the studio situated just off Carnaby street just made my trip to Lyle & Scott amazing.

I had been in discussion with the company over Facebook, who kindly gave me the email address of the HR department, who shortly after put me in touch with Lyle & Scott's head designer, John Tate, who had previously had a brief look at my work and asked me to travel down to see him. I gathered my visualization boards and portfolio of Lyle & Scott designs and made my way to the studio on the morning of the 25th.

I arrived In Euston and made my way to Oxford Circus, and I knew my surroundings instantly because I was a 30 second walk from Carnaby Street, (easily noticeable by the radical fashion trends and style of people). I located the studio and made my way to the 3rd floor of the building, hoping that I would be met by a receptionist who would kindly introduce to me John. However, after reaching the 3rd floor and making my way up a corridor and through a door I found myself in the centre of one of the design studios, with John Tate and 2 other designers sat there discussing visualisations for their next collection. Thankfully John stood up straight away and welcomed me into the fray, allowing me to sit and watch him and his team conclude their discussion about their new designs.

20 minutes had past, and the discussion was over, John then told me about what he had planned for me aswell as summing up quickly what Lyle & Scott is all about. John showed me 2 rooms that were next to each other, with different design teams in. One team designs and constructs outfits for the vintage range of the company and the other designers focus on the golfing area of the company. The styles don't get mixed because the 2 rooms look at different inspirations and are designing for different ages and style of customer.

John then asked to see my portfolio, and he asked me to guide him through it as much as possible and then he would give me some feedback and explain how I can improve in this area of the design market.

I began by showing him some of my research and photographs from New York City, and he gave me very useful information about how as a designer I can break these photographs down, and notice shapes and lines which don't particularly stand out. John emphasised how I need to begin taking my photo's out of their context, and if I played with scale it would allow me to create more visually interesting designs and provide me with more ideas.

The 2 images above were shown in my portfolio, alongside possible fabric swatches and inspirations, John really liked these two designs and commented on the stripe design by saying that it wouldn't have look out of place in Lyle & Scott's last collection. This was re-assuring because I felt that I had understood the identity of the company, and their style of design. John liked how I had the design as an A3 sheet aswell as it being visualised on garments, he said it is something he is currently getting his design team to do.

After discussing my portfolio for a while longer, with John kindly giving me some great advice and feedback about the processes of designing, the company, and the positives and negatives of my collection, he allowed me to ask him some questions. These were questions which I had wanted to be answered for a while, questions which I wanted someone in John's position to answer - a professional designer of a company I hoped to work for. Below is the question and answer sheet I typed up just after the interview...




I found out some very useful things off John including how to visualize garments, asking how to improve and whether or not living in Manchester would affect my chances of working in a studio similar to his.

The day wasn't over yet though, John very kindly stayed with me for a few hours before he headed to a meeting but before he left he told me stay in touch and made sure that I was given a variety of different fabric samples and colour ways for me to understand. John then said goodbye and shook my hand as he introduced me to the woman who designs the golfing range of the company, she kindly took me to the flagship store and introduced me to the store manager and told me lots of information about the history of the company. We discussed how the company had grown, which areas had improved since she joined and explained to me how the companies concept had changed throughout the years.

Whilst in the store, the manager explained which garments were selling most, and gave me his opinions on the new range. He told me that the busy controversial designs balanced with the simple plain shirts were key in creating a successful collection. A collection which will appeal to the mainstream and give people something to talk about.

My day was concluded shortly after when I was taken to see the Lyle & Scott clothing in Urban Outfitters, I hope to stay in touch with John and I intend to invite him to my show at New Designers this summer. The day was just fantastic, I have learnt so much in the space of one day and can now imagine how great it would be working in a studio like Lyle & Scott. I was delighted by the treatment John and his design team gave me, everyone was polite and easy to get on with and the whole atmosphere of the company is brilliant.

Contact with Lyle & Scott..HR

I contacted Lyle & Scott through their Facebook page, and they eventually gave me contact information so that I could get in touch with Lyle & Scott Human Resources.

I sent an email to HR and they forwarded my work to John Tate (The head designer at Lyle & Scott).






After a few weeks of contact with the company, I eventually began chatting to John Tate. we arranged a date for me to travel to London and discuss my work and ambitions with him. I will post information about my trip to London soon.