BA (Hons)

Meet the team

Sarah Charles: Course Leader

Having studied Fashion for four years at Bath Spa and London College of Fashion, Sarah began her career as a design assistant in a small independent fashion studio in the heart of Camden. Subsequent promotions took her into the West end working for French Connection and Tokito clothing then back out to Hendon where she became production controller for Wallis fashions. The role took Sarah from the East end of London to the deserts of Dubai negotiating and monitoring factory supply chains and manufacturing.

After 15 years experience of the Fashion Industry she decided it was time to share some of the realities of the industry with students. She joined the Arts University College in 2000 and has since developed and written a Fashion course which has been used as a national exemplar for other fashion courses in the UK.

Patricia Grice BA (Hons), PGCE: Senior Lecturer

After graduating in Fashion and Textiles, Patricia has over 20 years experience working in the fashion industry with high street manufacturers such as M&S, New Look, Next, Mothercare, Country Casuals. Her specialism is in pattern cutting with an emphasis on computer pattern cutting for fashion.

Patricia’s commitment to digital technology has supported course development in this area and she has been responsible for its implementation into the course curriculum. Her research into the development of innovative technical solutions and how industry uses this as part of the creative process is on going. Her aim is to encourage students to develop an awareness of how digital technology plays an important part in today’s fashion industry and ultimately will help in broadening their knowledge and skills thus securing employment as creative thinkers and fashion professionals. Patricia has recently compiled a pattern cutting teaching manual aimed at 1st year students, covering the fundamental methods of manual pattern construction.

Patricia attends regular seminars, takes part in teleconferencing and regularly liaises with the education partnership programme set up with Lectra, a world wide supplier of CAD/CAM and 3D technologies dedicated to the fashion industry.

Karen Ryan BA (Hons), PGCE (Level 1): Associate Lecturer

Karen trained in London at the Harrow School of Art (BA Fashion Design). She began her career as a womenswear illustrator for a trend consultancy and studied at Saint Martins College of Art and Design (Illustration for Professional use). She has designed professionally for over 18 years for many recognisable High Street brands including River Island and Marks & Spencer and travelled extensively in the Far East sourcing, producing and manufacturing.

In addition to her work as a designer and lecturer she recently launched The Girl Guide ‘Your Personal Shopping and Styling Assistant’ and provides one to one, workshops and talks based around colour, style, wardrobe organization and personal styling. Karen is currently involved in a community project, SALVAGE a fashion event to encourage young people to recycle and to raise funds for a charity that helps young people develop their sporting potential in Wiltshire.

Karen came to the AUCB in 2004 as a Visiting Lecturer and has been a Senior Lecturer on the FDA Fashion and Textiles course since 2009. She is currently in her second year of study for a PGCE at Greenwich University (distance learning) and hopes to develop her subject specialist study in the future.

Karen has two particular areas of interest from her subject specialist study, implementing Lectra design software (KALEDO) into the heart of the design units and incorporating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the implications on the Fashion Industry.

http://www.thegirlguide.co.uk/

Jody Harris: Technician Demonstrator

Jody has been trained in Fashion and Textiles and has had over 5 years experience as a couture Bridal Pattern cutter and also competent in tailoring, design, creative pattern cutting and construction. Within FdA/BA Fashion Technology Jody works technically in Pattern cutting, construction and also trained in Lectra (CAD). Working within the course has a keen interest in Lectra and continuing her training has obtained work placements in industry. Jody also runs and Teaches a successful evening class in Learning how to create your own clothes and is studying for a PGCE.

Alena Bessant BA (Hons): Technician Demonstrator

Born in Czech Republic, fashion designer and entrepreneur Alena Bessant studied BA (Hons) Fashion Design at The Arts Institute at Bournemouth working on ‘Live projects’ with designers Tracey Boyd and Justin Oh during her studies.

After showing the final collection at The London Graduate Fashion Week, Alena went on to work as a designer for leading UK silk manufacturer, designing for high street labels such as Designers at Debenhams (Pearce Fionda, Ben de Lisi, Mathew Williams and Gharani Strok), Monsoon, Muji, Marks and Spencer.

In 2005, Alena has launched her own fashion label and presented her first solo collection at the Swatch Alternative Fashion Week, London. Since then, Alena has been regularly showing at the Prague Fashion Week and has been nominated for The Talent of the Season Award at PFW and the Top Style Designer Award at the International Textile Fair in Czech Republic. Her designs have been featured in a number of fashion magazines in Czech Republic and internationally.

Beside her specialist subject fashion design and fashion illustration with graphic pens media, Alena’s interest is in innovative pattern cutting and its influence and importance in fashion design. Alena has also undergone training in Experimental and Explorative pattern cutting at Central Saint Martins.

Sarah James BA (Hons), PGCE: Visiting Tutor for Design Principles and Theory

Sarah trained at the University of Sunderland and holds an Honours Degree in Three Dimensional Design (Glass and Ceramics) specializing in flat glass processes. She has worked as a freelance designer/maker in Stained Glass for over 20 years during which time she has carried out numerous private commissions. Architectural works include pieces for the Birmingham Assay Office, The Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (Birmingham City University) in collaboration with student designers, and for the Criterion Restaurant Piccadilly.

She has taught design and glass courses for the past 15 years and is fascinated by the subject, history and practice of art. She gained her PGCE in 2009 from the AUCB.