In October 2025, our Creative & Design Lead Rebekah Bradley was awarded Industry Newcomer of the Year at the PCIAW® Awards Ceremony, being recognised for her early contributions to the professional clothing industry.
What does it mean for you to be recognised and awarded as a proficient and dedicated newcomer to the industry in a global ceremony like the PCIAW® Awards?
Being recognised and awarded the Industry Newcomer Award at a global ceremony such as the PCIAW® Awards was an incredible honour and a very meaningful start to my career in the professional clothing industry. The award celebrates my dedication and has demonstrated that my contributions to the industry so far are valued and respected at an international level. Beyond personal achievement, it is motivating to know that my journey may encourage aspiring creatives to pursue excellence and remain committed to their craft. I hope my journey inspires students to acknowledge their own potential and the contributions they can make to the clothing industry – whichever sector that may be.
Describe your journey on how you graduated from university and joined the professional clothing industry.
My final major project at university investigated how ergonomic and human-centred design principles could be applied to fashion, specifically within women’s tailoring. This project led me to enter the PCA Vision Design Competition, where I translated my research into the professional clothing sector, designing inclusive, functional, and fit for purpose flight attendant uniforms for 2030 supersonic aviation. The whole experience, from submitting my project proposal to attending the PCIAW® Summit as a PCA Vision Finalist, changed my perception of the clothing industry away from the world of fashion, and allowed me to recognise the vast potential of professional clothing and its natural alignment with my university project.
I have always appreciated the technical precision of tailoring, as well as the dedicated craftsmanship and primary focus on fit and construction. After graduating, I began working as a Junior Garment Technologist in tailoring and made-to-measure clothing, where I collaborated closely with designers and buyers while deepening my garment construction knowledge and technical ability. During this time, I undertook a postgraduate mentorship with Workwear Solutions (WSI), having connected with Natalie Wilson during a guest lector at UWE, progressing into a freelance Junior Technical Consultant role in early 2024. These opportunities allowed me to stay closely connected to the professional clothing industry, balancing a full-time fashion role in London whilst dedicating my evenings and weekends to developing illustrations and technical specifications for WSI.
When I was offered a full-time position at Workwear Solutions this April, it was an easy decision. My role at WSI encapsulates everything I love about the clothing industry – it’s a creative, innovative and solutions-driven space which focuses on the wearer and their working environment. Before participating in the PCA Vision Competition, I had no awareness of the professional clothing industry, yet my university project instinctively prioritised the wearer’s experience. Now, this same approach defines my career, and I am so proud that my early explorations have come full circle in such a meaningful way.
What are the most rewarding aspects of your role in the professional clothing industry? And what project are you most proud of?
As Creative & Design Lead at WSI, my role encompasses two core areas: technical design and creative brand development. On the design side, I contribute to research and product development through detailed specification writing, technical illustrations, and technical assessments. The most rewarding aspect of this is balancing creativity with functionality while empowering the end-user, and adapting the grounded realities of garment production, compliance and performance/safety requirements to the ever-changing world of the clothing industry. Having only been involved in isolated phases of a project as a freelancer, it is also very rewarding to now collaborate across disciplines and be involved in a project’s full life-cycle – from initial and often diverse concepts through to eventual tender award.
On the creative side of my role, I lead our brand’s marketing, shaping our voice and brand identity. I supported the launch of our website and now manage ongoing updates including writing monthly blog content and producing marketing materials. These are the projects I am most proud of so far, as I’m developing skills new to me in a professional environment: content planning and co-ordination, marketing communication, and graphic design – all of which complement my technical design expertise and enhance my ability to create cohesive, user-focused experiences.
Do your experiences so far give reasons to be excited to continue your career path in the professional clothing industry?
My experiences so far have shown me how dynamic and rewarding the professional clothing industry can be. My current role is allowing me to develop skills that challenge me to evolve every day and has opened my eyes to the sheer variety of work our industry has to offer. It presents to me the real impact that purposeful design can have for the wearer – and how important it is to understand their needs, listen to their experiences, and provide solutions that genuinely improve their working experience.
Through this award the recognition of my achievements has not only validated my skills and work ethic but has motivated me to stay committed to continuous learning and growth. It has confirmed that I am on the right path, and I am so excited to continue contributing to meaningful solutions in the professional clothing industry.
