Three former fashion students are putting their skills to good use making specialist kit for people with neuro-muscular conditions.
Charlotte Jowlett, from Penryn, Ella Tresidder, from Camborne and Holly Vinter, from Hayle work as pattern cutters at Redruth-based DM Orthotics.
The firm, which has customers worldwide, makes medical rehabilitation and sports performance products.
With a network of national and international clinical specialists, the DM Orthotics team designs and manufactures products which manage the physical effects of conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, Scoliosis, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke and Multiple Sclerosis.
It's precision cut items means it needs skilled workers and staff with a background in fashion and pattern cutting fit the bill.
Pattern Cutter Charlotte Jowlett, 39, studied at the University of Salford and has worked with the company for the last 10 years.
She said: “It’s a highly specialised, bespoke process that goes through regular checks to ensure quality and precision. It’s a fascinating job that makes the most of my skills and gives me the satisfaction of knowing I’m helping change people’s lives for the better.”
Ella Tresidder has been with DM Orthotics for eight years and did her degree in fashion and textile design at the University of the West of England.
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“I was searching for a full-time job after graduating and saw pattern cutter advertised, something quite rare in Cornwall. I had a look at the website and thought that’s different. I love being able to work independently on such a variety of different products and it’s really rewarding to make something that can improve a child or adult’s life. Now I’m a mum, I have also been able to flex my hours around parenting which really helps the work life balance.”
Holly Vinter graduated from Plymouth College of Arts. “After university I wondered what I was going to do as there aren’t a lot of fashion opportunities in Cornwall,” she said. “An advert for pattern cutting immediately appealed and I’ll have been with the company 5 years in October.
“Unlike a fashion garment, the products we work on are medical devices and each piece of material has its own function. Before Covid, we used to see some of the patients when they visited the factory and it was lovely to see the difference one of our suits made to them – especially the children.”