The Clevedon Spotlight talks with Pip Jenkins


about her memories of early life in Clevedon, presenting to the Queen and her experiences as Head Designer at John Smedley


What sort of challenges have you had to overcome to get to the position you are in today?


My biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome is being dyslexic, I never thought I would be going to college let alone going to university and getting a 1st


Class Hons degree


and be where I am now as Head Designer for John Smedley at 26. But once I made that first step to leave school and focused on textiles at college it all fell into place.


What advice would you give to the people who want to follow a career in textiles / design?


Get as much experience as you can in the industry. If you choose to study it at college and university you need to get some work experience as well. As most jobs will ask for practical experience. I managed to get work experience in the summers when I wasn’t studying with high end designer Richard Nicoll and the American company Brooks Brothers which was based in New York. This also gave me a good idea where in the industry I wanted to work after I graduated.


What memories do you have of early life in Clevedon?


It’s got to be the beach and pier in Clevedon, even now when I come home I always have to go down to the beach and see the sea. Its weird but living in Chesterfield now, where the sea is miles away I really miss it, I’ve always felt looking out to the sea that the possibility are endless. Also growing up in Kenn close to my Grandparents farm always holds exciting memories for me and even inspires my work today, the first collection I designed for John Smedley was inspired by my time on the farm with my grandad.


What has been your biggest achievement yet?


My biggest achievement to date was presenting the Spring / Summer 15 collection to The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh during a formal visit to John Smedley this July. It was a pretty nerve racking experience but one I will never forget. Also I would say every season when we show the Mens collection at LC:M (London fashion week for men) and I see the whole collection showcased in an amazing setting with great models and key fashion buyers and celebrities coming to see the collection like Tinie Temper and Dermot O’Leary, knowing that I designed that collection is pretty unreal.


Do you have to do much travelling with your role at John Smedley?


I have to travel quite regularly at John Smedley. With the design studio in Derbyshire I’m always on the train down to London for photo shoots, meetings, and to keep an eye on what’s happening in London. I’ve travelled to Japan visiting Tokyo and Osaka many times now as its one of our biggest export markets, This is one of my favourite trips in the calendar as it’s such amazing place, you can really get inspired over there. I also have to make trips to Italy every season either going to Florence or going to see our yarn spinners to go through the new colour palettes. Traveling is an essential part of the role of being a designer especially for a company like John Smedley where they sell all over the world, I need to understand the different markets that we are designing for so we can offer the right products.


What is it like to work at John Smedley?


It’s a very hands on role designing at John Smedley, which is the way


Spotlight on Clevedon People - page 15


I like it. As we make all our knitwear in England and the design studio is based in the factory near Matlock in Derbyshire, I can over see my design from the first sketch down to it being put into production. It’s such a special product and so many aspects of it being manufactured are still hand finished, you really do get the craftsmanship of this long standing company in every product.


Tell us about John Smedley


John Smedley’s is renowned throughout the world as a leader in the production of fine gauge knitwear products, established in 1784 it is one of the oldest producers in the world. Still family owned the company continues to innovate while retaining the hand crafted finishing techniques and using the finest quality raw materials available. Over the last 20 years, John Smedley has developed the world market for fine gauge fully fashioned knitwear with more than 70% of output being exported to over 35 countries worldwide.


We have also collaborated with brands and designers like Vivienne Westwood, Margaret Howell, Paul Smith and Yves St Laurent.


Where do you get your ideas from when you design a new range?


Designing for a brand like John Smedley you don’t have to look far to be inspired with a rich archive of garments and still working from the same location it was founded in 1784 it definitely has character. But we take the history and bring a contemporary and innovated aspect to the collection, always pushing the knitting machines technology to produce something that people will get excited about.


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