A Master Technical Consultant and a Master Pattern Cutter within the Fashion Industry, Jean Perry (Price) nee Dansey, sadly died at her home in Barnes on the 19^th of December 2024, aged 77. She was born in Banstead, Surrey, where she enjoyed a semi-rural childhood as one of four children.

Defying all expectations of a girl of her time, Jean won a place at Sutton School of Art, with designs and dresses she had made at home, afterwards winning a place at the London College of Fashion, to continue her training in Fashion Design and Pattern Cutting.

During her time at LCF, self-sufficient Jean was continually working long and hard hours as a pattern cutter in many of the garment houses in London, and after she graduated she immediately began working as a fashion designer and pattern cutter at many high profile labels due to her talent and skills, rising to manage a team of five people. Jean was hugely instrumental in bringing many new fashions to the High Street.

During this time she married her first husband, Steve, whom she had met whilst at art school and gave birth to her first child, Christopher, in 1979, and her second child, Amber, in 1983. In order to take care of her young children, between 1980 and 1988, Jean switched to lecturing part-time in Pattern Cutting and Garment Technology. She taught at Central St. Martins, The London College of Fashion, Kingston University, Sutton University, and others. She taught many now prominent Fashion Designers during her time lecturing.

In 1988 she became Head Pattern Cutter at Laura Ashley, where she fitted and cut some patterns for Princess Margaret and for other members of the Royal Family.

She then chose the path of becoming the Head Garment Technologist and Head of Quality Control for many of the major high street fashion labels, implementing and establishing their Technical Quality Control Departments both nationally and internationally. She established the quality guidelines, wrote the quality control manuals, trained staff, and inspected all of the garments. Also she inspected their factories across Europe and Asia to ensure quality and ethical standards were upheld. Her encyclopedic knowledge of textile construction was renowned throughout the industry. She also worked with the British Retail Consortium to identify criteria to promote mechanical safety for the design and manufacture of children’s clothing.

After many years in that role she began her own Technical Quality Consultancy in 2000 and continued as one of most senior Technical Quality Consultants within the Fashion Industry.

Some of the companies whom she worked with in this capacity included: Topman/Topshop, Principles, Campari International, Racing Green, BHS, River Island, New Look, East, Oasis, Debenhams, LCF, Dabaer, FatFace, Ted Baker, Monsoon/Accessorise, Anokhi, Tesco Children’s Wear, White Stuff, and AAK Ltd supplier to M&S.

She received many accolades and honours including being made a member and then a Fellow of the Textile Institute International, served on the governing council of the Institute as Honorary Secretary, and the Chair of The Textile Institute London and South East England Section. She was also a Fellow of the Federation of Clothing Designers and Executives, and a President of the London Association of Clothing Designers and Executives.

Jean was a tireless hard worker who week after week, after returning home from work at 8pm would spend many hours helping her children with homework, cooking and caring for her family. Then afterwards would work until 2am on her professional work, ensuring it was of the highest standard in the industry. So ensuring to provide the best possible standard of living she could for her family. She was a force of nature.

Jean’s retirement years with her second husband, Colin Price, included her passion for dancing, scuba diving, travelling and being a loving Grandmother to her three grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. Despite beating breast cancer twice, Jean’s vitality was only challenged when she developed Parkinson’s disease in her late sixties which increasingly impaired her mobility.

Jean’s kind nature meant she was liked by all who knew her. She will be very deeply missed by her children, Amber and Chris, and her husband Colin, as well as by her surviving brother, Paul, and her sister, Mary. There will be a memorial service at 3pm on Saturday 8^th March at St. Mary’s Church, Barnes, SW13 9HL.