Graduating with a BA(Hons) Fashion/Textiles, Claire became a fashion designer and garment production specialist then set-up and managed a successful fashion design label for over ten years, producing, retailing and wholesaling globally. She moved into academia and working at the University of Leeds launched, as Course Leader, BA (Hons) Fashion Communciation and Marketing . 

Moving to the University of Huddersfield she became Course Leader for the Fashion Design suite of courses for over 12 years. She has held roles such as  external validator, external examiner,  Course Franchise led (Hong Kong), written  courses and modules and taught across subject including fashion design, pattern cutting, grading, garment production, marketing, dissertation and pattern design software.

Claire leads research on fashion production waste efficiencies and as Principal Investigator has been successfully in attaining funded bids , investigating garment production development strategies and the integration of digital production platforms within the industry. Her PhD  investigated the effective use and repurposing of fashion production waste for new garment solutions.

• Creative research processes involved in the design, production and cutting efficiencies of garments.
• The integration and use of technology in the design process through computerised pattern cutting and grading.