Meet Jade . .
Some background . . .
Originally wanting be tailor, Jade tried eagerly for an apprenticeship on Saville Row but to no avail, this further drove his desire to break into the industry one way or another and he went on to graduate from UCCA (Rochester Campus, Kent) with a 1st Class hons in Fashion Design (selected as a Gold Award Nominee for the end of year Gala Fashion Awards Show)
Still with hopes to get into tailoring Jade managed to gain some first hand experience by shadowing the Master Tailor (Peter) in the cutting room at Gieves & Hawkes whilst studying for his degree, as well as with Henry Rose who was at the time based in-house at the Stella Mcartney atelier.
Following his graduation he then started in a Junior design assistant role that was for a fixed short term contract with Timberland that turned into a full time offer, this is where his love and passion for functional, performance product was cemented, working with a world class team he soon established himself as a technical outdoor lifestyle performance designer. .
. . 4 years later and a few promotions up to senior design level Jade was then headhunted to take on a lead design role with the brand Animal which saw him successfully help to re establish their ski and snow categories. Realising that life out of London wasn’t for him he then kickstarted his consultancy career and hasn’t looked back since.
Working with a multitude of brands, across a spectrum of products, Jade has designed product that’s been tried, tested, and proven for high profile global brands, from outdoor technical to sport-specific ranges, for Brands like Thrudark, Musto, Jack Wolfskin, CHPT3, to name a few. Having the variation and seeing how the cogs work across a wide array of differing brands has helped Jade to diversify his skillsets. His extensive knowledge of the design process helps to drive solutions and bring product line diversification as a brand building design partner, with demonstrated success in developing strategies and creating concepts, products and collections for brands from inception through to delivery.
“A passionate designer always striving to deliver products that will inevitably enhance the end users capabilities; “by testing ideas and enabling failures we can deliver successes”
Now it’s time to take everything he’s built for others and put it into ABSNT. One drop at a time. Building a brand with intention, with purpose, and with a community behind it.
Outside of his work life he will be found taking on a DIY project at home or escaping for weekend adventures with his young growing family. Keeping physically foit as weel as mentally he’ll either be out on his road bike taking in the country lanes or down at the Padel court getting a good runabout in.
