About / Résumé

Joy Chaffe is an intuitive pattern maker that interprets design sketches with a creative yet commercial eye using a variety of cutting methods.
A dedicated and personable team player with 14 years experience working in the fashion industry.

Gerber proficient in pattern design, grading and marker making.

Career Highlights

A small selection of career highlights.
To download a full Résumé please click below.

 

Scanlan Theodore

Melbourne, Australia. 2013-2017

 

  • Working from photos, sketches and garments to create first patterns from blocks or by draping on the stand for a wide range of product categories for womenswear with an emphasis on soft separates and tailoring. Fabrics also included lace, leather and modern stretch fabrics.

  • Collaborating with designers to workshop new style ideas, fabric treatments and placements for print, lace and embroidery to create high end original pieces.

  • Creating lay plans for costing and sample cutting to ensure effective use of fabric.

  • Attending fit meetings to develop styles, troubleshoot and refine fit.

  • Managing fit meetings for all pattern makers while the designers travel.

  • Custom dresses for VIP clients and special occasion pieces for fashion shows.

  • Training a junior pattern maker and workroom assistants.

  • New block development and occasional grading.

 

Jaeger

London, UK. 2008-2013

 

  • Creating and drafting patterns using Gerber or draping on the stand to achieve correct silhouette of all product types; tailoring, casual wear and soft separates in a wide variety of fabrics including leather and fur.

  • Closely working with designers, sample machinists, buyers and the QA department to develop product, advising of the quality and construction methods, from first sample stage through to finished product with correct specifications for suppliers and factories.

  • Attending design fit meetings and ensuring that design team requests are followed through.

  • Block development, grading of blocks and archive management.

  • Managing pattern and sample workflow internally for freelancers, cutters and sample machinists.

  • Prioritizing workload to meet designer deadline meetings, campaign and lookbook shoots, press days and, previously leading up to the very busy schedule prior to London Fashion Week.

 

Forever New

Melbourne, Australia. 2019-2020

 

  • Working in a fast-paced environment on day dresses and tops, speed to market trend pieces and complex styles in collaboration with designers and machinists.

  • Creating first patterns from blocks and draping on the stand

  • Amendments for final fit patterns

  • Block development and grading

Education

 

  • 2016 - 6-day ICCON Technology block drafting and pattern making Master Class (Barbara Davies).

  • 2010 - Gerber training at the London College of Fashion.

    3-day Gerber VS8.4 course.

  • 2004 - 2-week Gerber training course in Digitizing and Grading from JACATA, Auckland NZ.

  • 2001 - 2004 Bachelor of Fashion Design from UCOL, Wanganui NZ.