Experience

THE MONKEY PUZZLE TREE LTD

• United Kingdom
• Retail
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Founder

  • Jun 2016 - Present

  Multi award winning English made fabrics and wallcoverings with a twist and a conscience. From real cork wallpaper to spectacular screen printed fabrics and secretly naughty lace, The Monkey Puzzle Tree combines a love of colour and pattern with a strong ethical purpose. Creating exquisite textiles and wallcoverings which enrich interiors with character, authenticity and a quiet sense of rebellion. Established in 2017 by Charlotte Raffo, The Monkey Puzzle Tree has carved out a new way to harness creative ideas by collaborating with carefully selected Yorkshire artists, celebrating the best of the North of England's creativity, eccentricity and innovation. The company works to support local communities and minimise the environmental impact of their products, paying their artists generous royalties and manufacturing their luxury designs within 100 miles of their Leeds studio. Winner of ‘Best in British Product Design’ at the Hotel Designs Brit List Awards 2021 for ‘Metamorphosis’ linen union fabric Awarded a Design Guild Mark in 2021 for ‘Hit the North’ real cork wallpaper Show less



Mamas & Papas

• Retail
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Buyer - Fabrics and Components

  • Sep 2015 - Apr 2016

  Responsible for sourcing, developing and buying all centrally sourced fabrics and components. Developed recent collaborations with Liberty and Donna Wilson. Working closely with the Design Team and Buyer's Assistant I interpret trends and initial concepts into beautiful fabrics and trims for high end nursery products.I manage and underwrite greige and component stocks to reduce lead times and ensure consistency across products. Responsible for compliance, quality and solving production issues. Show less

• Fabric and Component Developer

  • May 2007 - Sep 2015

  Sole responsibility for buying and developing trend-led quality assured fabrics and components for all Transport and Nursery Equipment products at Mamas and Papas (pushchairs, changing bags, cradles, highchairs car seats, bags and accessories), as well as branding across all non clothing ranges. This entails working across multiple product categories with a large team of Product Developments and Designers to source unique textiles and components which are both aesthetically pleasing and technically compliant. Show less

• Designer/Product Developer 'Ziko' sub-brand

  • Mar 2006 - May 2007

  Co-created quirky pushchair sub-brand, briefing innovative product designs to product manufacturers using specifications, own sewn prototypes and 3D models.



Pittards Plc

• United Kingdom
• Textile Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Leather development technologist/designer

  • Jun 2000 - Mar 2006

  Pittards Plc manufactured leather for leading brands including Louis Vuitton, Adidas Marks and Spencer and Merrell. Developed and designed innovative surface finishes and processes to make leather unique. Supervised transition from small scale to bulk production. Innovative products included a best selling leather with unique sanded and distressed finish which upgraded low quality hides to a beautiful product which sold to Merrell, Camper and New Balance. Pittards Plc manufactured leather for leading brands including Louis Vuitton, Adidas Marks and Spencer and Merrell. Developed and designed innovative surface finishes and processes to make leather unique. Supervised transition from small scale to bulk production. Innovative products included a best selling leather with unique sanded and distressed finish which upgraded low quality hides to a beautiful product which sold to Merrell, Camper and New Balance.