My sister Jean Perry passed away at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy as a highly regarded master pattern cutter and technical consultant in the fashion industry.
She spent many years designing for prestigious brands before becoming the chief pattern cutter for Laura Ashley in 1988, where she interacted with members of the royal family. Later, she shifted her focus to quality control, taking on various roles with leading high street retailers, where she developed quality control manuals and inspected factories across Europe and Asia to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
In 2000, Jean established her own consultancy and became a prominent figure in garment technical quality consulting. Her clients included Topshop, Principles, River Island, New Look, East, Oasis, Debenhams, Ted Baker, Anokhi, Tesco, White Stuff, and AAK, a supplier for M&S.
Jean was born in Banstead, Surrey, to Elsie (née Tree) and Leslie Dansey, a civil servant. In the years leading up to the war, Elsie worked as an haute couture dressmaker in London’s West End, imparting her skills in cooking, gardening, and sewing to her four children. When Jean was still quite young, our family relocated to nearby Burgh Heath, where we enjoyed a semi-rural upbringing.
Following her time at Nork Park School, Jean earned a place at the Sutton School of Art and subsequently attended the London School of Fashion. During her studies, she worked extensive hours as a pattern cutter. Upon completing her education, she joined Courtaulds as a designer and quickly rose to lead a team of five for Alexon.
In 1971, Jean married her first husband, Stephen Perry, who shared her creative interests and worked as a graphic designer. They made their home in Barnes, southwest London, where Jean resided for the remainder of her life. She cherished this village community and had a particular fondness for the local pond.
While raising her two young children, Christopher and Amber, in the 1980s, Jean transitioned to teaching pattern cutting and garment technology, including roles at Central Saint Martins (now part of the University of the Arts London) and the London College of Fashion.
She received numerous accolades throughout her career: she was a fellow of the Textile Institute, awarded its distinguished service medal in 2020, and was also a fellow of the Federation of Clothing Designers and Executives. Notably, she served as president of the London Association of Clothing Designers and Executives from 1999 to 2000.
After her divorce from Stephen in 2001, Jean married Colin Price in 2013. Following her retirement in 2018, she indulged in dancing, scuba diving, travel, and spending quality time with her grandchildren. Her vibrant spirit faced its only significant challenge when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Jean is survived by her husband Colin, her children Amber and Christopher, and two of her siblings, Mary and myself.
