Freelance Creative Pattern Cutter

De La Vali; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

De La Vali, a fast-growing UK womenswear brand, is seeking an experienced freelance pattern cutter to join our design team in London. You will turn sketches into production-ready patterns for our dresses, tops and lightweight tailoring, working closely with designers and our factories.

You will cut first patterns, develop corrections after fittings, and support with construction details for overseas production.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years' professional experience cutting womenswear patterns.
• Strong draping on the stand and flat pattern cutting skills.
• Ability to make toiles, fit on stand and model with high standards.
• Experience communicating changes to a design team and to factories.
• Excellent attention to detail and clearly named pattern files.
• Own transport or ability to attend fittings in London.

Responsibilities

• Cut first patterns from design sketches, technical drawings or reference garments, making toiles to test and refine each pattern.
• Develop and correct patterns after each sample and fitting, recording changes clearly.
• Attend fittings (live model and fit sessions) and give clear feedback on fit, balance and construction.
• Advise designers on construction, fabric behaviour and cost-efficient pattern and marker use.
• Prepare clean, labelled final patterns for factory release with notches and seam allowances.
• Support technical packs with construction details and measurement specifications.
• Work with production to resolve fit or pattern queries from overseas factories.

Skills

Pattern cutting

Draping

Flat pattern

Toiles

Fittings coordination

Pattern adjustments

Attention to detail

Communication

Job description

De La Vali is one of the UK’s most exciting emerging womenswear brands. Founded in Ibiza in 2017, the brand has evolved from a cult favourite into a fast-growing international fashion brand. Creative Director Jana Sascha divides her time between London, where the headquarters sits and Ibiza, the island that shaped her upbringing and continues to influence every collection.Rooted in the hedonistic, bohemian spirit of Ibiza and the warmth of Spanish culture, De La Vali creates romantic, eclectic and free-spirited womenswear. The brand is a love letter to the island and to its muse Vali Myers, a true bohemian and artistic force whose untamed spirit inspires the De La Vali woman.Today the brand is scaling rapidly with a global stockist network, a growing direct-to-consumer presence and a clear vision for expansion. From celebrity red-carpet moments and editorial features, to strategic partnerships and international growth, De La Vali has built a strong foundation for the next phase of its journey.Joining De La Vali means being part of a creative, ambitious and collaborative team that champions femininity, individuality and expression. The brand designs to empower women to feel their most beautiful, confident selves and is now extending that same spirit into building its internal culture.With new roles opening across the business, this is an exciting moment to be part of a thriving fashion brand on the rise. Candidates with passion, fresh thinking and a love for distinctive design will find real opportunity to grow and make an impact at De La Vali. We are looking for an experienced freelance pattern cutter to work alongside our design team, turning sketches and samples into well-fitting, production-ready patterns for our womenswear collections. You will work closely with our designers and production team, and your patterns will go straight to our factories.

Key responsibilities

• Cut first patterns from design sketches, technical drawings or reference garments, in line with the brief and the intended fit, and make your own toiles to test and refine each pattern before sampling.
• Develop and correct patterns after each sample and fitting, recording every change clearly.
• Attend fittings (live model and fit sessions) and give clear feedback on fit, balance and construction.
• Advise designers on construction, fabric behaviour and cost-efficient pattern and marker use.
• Prepare clean, labelled final patterns, with notches, grainlines and seam allowances, for factory release.
• Support technical packs with construction details and measurement specifications.
• Work with the production team to resolve fit or pattern queries from our overseas factories.

Skills and experience

Essential

• At least 7 years' professional experience cutting womenswear patterns, ideally in dresses, tops and lightweight tailoring.
• Strong, proven experience draping on the stand, alongside solid flat pattern cutting skills and a good understanding of fit and garment construction.
• Able to make your own toiles, sewing them to a high standard and fitting them on the stand and on a model.
• Experience working to a brief and a sample schedule, and communicating changes clearly to a design team and to factories.
• Excellent attention to detail, and well-organised, clearly named pattern files.
• Own transport or ability to attend fittings in London.

Desirable

• Experience working with overseas manufacturers and wholesale-quality production standards.
• Knowledge of fabrics such as viscose, cotton, linen, silk and knits, and how they behave in production.