My sister Jean Perry, who has died aged 77, was a master pattern cutter and technical consultant highly respected within the fashion industry.
After working for years as a designer for high-end labels, she was appointed head pattern cutter at Laura Ashley in 1988, where she had dealings with members of the royal family. She then chose to go into the field of quality control and took up roles with many major high street brands, writing their quality control manuals and inspecting factories across Europe and Asia to ensure ethical practices.
Jean began her own consultancy in 2000 and continued to be one of the leading garment technical quality consultants. Companies she worked with included Topshop, Principles, River Island, New Look, East, Oasis, Debenhams, Ted Baker, Anokhi, Tesco, White Stuff and AAK (an M&S supplier).
Jean was born in Banstead, Surrey, the daughter of Elsie (nee Tree) and Leslie Dansey, a civil servant. In the pre-war years, Elsie had worked as an haute couture dressmaker in the West End of London, and passed on cooking, gardening and sewing skills to her four children. When Jean was still a toddler, our family moved to nearby Burgh Heath, and we enjoyed a semi-rural childhood.
From Nork Park school, Jean won a place at Sutton School of Art and then went to the London School of Fashion. While still studying, she worked long hours as a pattern cutter. After graduation she joined Courtaulds as a designer, progressing to manage a team of five for Alexon.
Jean’s first husband, Stephen Perry, whom she married in 1971, shared her artistic background and worked as a graphic designer. They settled in Barnes, south-west London, where Jean lived for the rest of her life. She loved the village and was especially fond of the pond.
While bringing up her two young children, Christopher and Amber, in the 1980s, Jean switched to lecturing in pattern cutting and garment technology, including teaching at Central Saint Martins (now part of the University of the Arts London) and the London College of Fashion.
She received many honours: she was a fellow of the Textile Institute and received its distinguished service medal in 2020, was a fellow of the Federation of Clothing Designers and Executives, and in 1999-2000 served as president of the London Association of Clothing Designers and Executives.
Jean and Stephen divorced in 2004, and in 2013 she married Colin Price. After her retirement in 2018, she enjoyed dancing, scuba diving, travelling and spending time with her grandchildren. Her vitality was only challenged when she developed Parkinson’s disease.
She is survived by Colin, Amber and Christopher, and two of her siblings, Mary and me.
