Valerie Ferrat

Trained in Paris, France, in the art of pattern drafting and draping, I began my career creating bespoke women’s collections for private clients, spanning over Paris and Lyon. From hand-finished wedding dresses to custom-designed fabrics, I explored every detail of garment creation, dressing young actresses and bringing my designs to life with meticulous care. Over time, my collections found homes with professional clients across Europe and overseas, allowing my work to reach a wider audience.Driven by a desire to share my knowledge, I launched a collection of sewing patterns for people who want to craft their own clothes, making pattern drafting accessible to homemakers while celebrating creativity and personal expression. I started teaching in France in 2014 and continued in Scotland in 2019, teaching in a college. I have been teaching pattern drafting and portfolio presentation to undergraduate fashion students at Heriot-Watt University’s Borders campus for four years.Passionate about pattern drafting as a creative discipline, I focus on adapting comfort, fit, and style to the individual body, working primarily with woven fabrics. Every pattern is an opportunity to combine technical precision with artistic vision, creating garments that are both beautiful and perfectly tailored to the wearer.I began teaching in France in 2014, and then continued in Scotland in November 2019 when I joined West College Scotland, within their Creative Industries department. There, I worked as a lecturer delivering the following courses: Animation, Graphic Design, and Introduction to Design. I taught NC (National Certificate) and HNC (Higher National Certificate) students, as well as vocational courses to high school students within the same college. The Animation course was highly creative, allowing me to explore a range of techniques with the students, including Stop Motion and 2D animation using Creative Cloud software. The students developed their projects from scratch, creating the pitch, defining the characters' personalities, the set, then bringing them to life as 3D using plasticine, paper, and all sorts of mixed media. They followed clear pedagogical steps involved in the learning process while maintaining a strong sense of fun and creativity, and results were very good. For the Graphic Design course, I taught a variety of NC and HNC classes, including groups with special needs students. One course I particularly remember was an Introduction to Design, which included painting techniques. As part of the project, we worked both on creating artworks and curating an exhibition to showcase them. Some of the special needs students were able to join a visit to the Burrell Collection in Glasgow, where we took part in a guided tour (just for our group) to observe artworks and explore how exhibitions are designed and presented. As some of the students were unable to attend, I borrowed a camera from the college and filmed the visit, so they could also take part in the experience. This approach ensured that the entire special needs class was fully involved in the project and in creating the final work. The students interacted very positively with one another, and the class had a lively, enjoyable, and engaging atmosphere.Then, in January 2023, I joined Heriot-Watt University at the Scottish Borders campus within the School of Textile and Design, where I took on the role of a Course Leader for first, second, and third-year Fashion students. Fashion Design and Pattern Drafting are my core skills and passions. However, my experience at West College Scotland also taught me a great deal, as it enabled me to broaden my knowledge, expand my creativity, and adapt pedagogical methods to suit a wide range of student groups.In my role as Fashion course leader, I have taught a variety of briefs covering traditional Pattern Drafting techniques as well as more creative techniques, Fashion illustration, Technical drawing, and Portfolio presentation skills. I have focused on facilitating the students' learning process, encouraging them to experiment as much as possible, develop their creativity, and build independence and autonomy in their work. For example, some students benefit from studying and reproducing existing work—not as plagiarism but as a way to build their visual culture, understand techniques, and stimulate the development of their own ideas and creative practice.Alongside teaching, I design and sell Sewing Patterns along with sewing instructions. My studio is based at Abbeymount Studios in Edinburgh. My creative brand is named Love and Jam.