Issue Nº 10 · The Freelance Issue
Nº 10Design direction · Brands · Factories · SuppliersDubai / UK · 2026

← 10+ years →Designedto be made.

  • p.02 The designer who’s sat on both sides of the table
  • p.04 Gym Class(ic), NFL & Rockstar Riot
  • p.06 Trend to rail in seven stages
  • p.08 Everything that goes into the garment
02Both sides of the tableKarmpreet Gill

I’ve sat onboth sidesof the table.

I’ve designed for Ellesse, Rapha and Gymshark from inside a supplier’s design office, and led design inside brands like boohooMAN and Gloria Jeans. I know what each side needs from the other, and how to get product from one to the other without losing anything on the way.

“Creative enough for the brand. Technical enough for the factory.”
Client type A · Supply side

Factories & suppliers

Win the account before the first sample.

  1. Trend-led ranges designed for you to pitch to brands
  2. A senior design capability without a full-time team
  3. Factory-ready tech packs that buyers trust
  4. Fit and sample corrections in the language buyers speak
  5. Presentation-ready product for buyer meetings
Client type B · Brand side

Brands & labels

A creative director, when you need one.

  1. Interim or fractional Creative / Design Director
  2. Seasonal vision, trend and colour direction
  3. Range architecture and collection development
  4. Campaign, e-commerce and social creative direction
  5. Building and mentoring design teams
01

Gym Class(ic)

Client
boohooMAN
Season
SS22
Category
Menswear capsule
Role
Lead Senior Designer

A retro sports capsule that pays homage to '70s gym wear.

Everyday essentials and comfort wear were coming back, so the capsule revived the vintage sports look: reworked basics, oversized and relaxed silhouettes, deep-placket necklines and contrast varsity branding. The palette is built on vintage classics (navy, red and ecru) with pops of sunflower yellow and emerald green.

Key referencesAmiri · Rhude · FOG Essentials · Drôle de Monsieur · New Balance · Aimé Leon Dore

  • Whisper White11-0701 TCX
  • Cartouche17-1325 TCX
  • Super Lemon14-0754 TCX
  • Haute Red19-1758 TCX
  • Poseidon19-4111 TCX
  • Dark Green#2A5541
  • Ivy18-5620 TCX
Development5 sheets · click to enlarge
02

90's Resurgence

Client
boohooMAN
Season
AW22
Category
Menswear collection
Role
Lead Senior Designer

'90s hip-hop and streetwear, with a twist.

Oversized, baggy '90s shapes are referenced, then given a younger feel with pops of candyfloss pink and washed browns. The pieces were designed to last: eco and natural washes, hemp-based denims and twills, and recycled nylons.

Key referencesAimé Leon Dore · Daily Paper · Supreme · FUBU · Evisu

  • Sky Captain19-3922 TCX
  • Surf the Web19-3952 TCX
  • Mars Red18-1655 TCX
  • Blush15-1614 TCX
  • White Asparagus12-0104 TCX
  • Nickel14-6408 TCX
  • Pinecone19-1121 TCX
Development6 sheets · click to enlarge
03

NFL × boohooMAN

Client
boohooMAN × NFL
Season
Licensed
Category
Menswear licensing
Role
Lead Senior Designer

An officially licensed NFL range, from locker room to street.

Varsity jackets, hoodies and sets for the Raiders, Rams, Packers, Patriots and more. Every style was designed within the league's brand guidelines and signed off through licensor approval: heavy appliqué, patch-laden bombers and team colour-blocking, made commercial for the boohooMAN customer.

  • Raiders Black#16171A
  • Silver#A5ACAF
  • Rams Royal#1D4FA3
  • Packers Green#203731
  • Gold#FFB612
  • Patriots Navy#0B2346
Development3 sheets · click to enlarge
04

Rockstar Riot

Client
Fashion Nova
Season
SS25
Category
Menswear range
Role
Freelance designer

Gothic rock-star swagger for the Fashion Nova man.

Heavy distressing, brushback and loopback jerseys, hotfix, gothic crosses and blackletter graphics, all in washed blacks and charcoal. The range runs from oversized hoodies and faux-layer long sleeves to airtex football jerseys and flare-fit joggers. Each style was drawn front and back, with flats and construction notes ready for sampling.

  • Washed Black#1C1C1C
  • Charcoal#3D3D3D
  • Concrete#8A8A8A
  • Bone#E9E4DA
Development11 sheets · click to enlarge
05Selected work · FreelanceGumball 3000 · 2025
Fig. 08: Rally tee, front view
Brand & Design Consultant · Aug → Oct 2025

Dubai to Istanbul,concept to delivery.

I led the full design and product development of the apparel collection for the Gumball 3000 Istanbul–Ibiza Rally. I designed the range, wrote the tech packs, sourced fabrics and trims, found manufacturing partners in Istanbul and managed production through to delivery.

Design
Dubai
Production
Istanbul
Scope
Concept → delivery
06Trend to rail in seven stages

Trend
to rail.

One garment, seven stages. Hand me one of them or all seven. Scroll →

01Insight
UtilityHeritage

It starts with the customer.

Consumer, cultural and trend research turned into a clear seasonal direction.

02Concept

Ideas with a purpose.

Range architecture and concept design. Every piece earns its place.

03Specification
A · 62B · 74

Drawn to be made.

Factory-ready tech packs, points of measure and construction detail.

04Fabric & Trim

The feel of it.

Fabric, GSM, trims and components sourced to the brief and budget.

05Sample & Fit
+1.5raise 1cm

Right, then right again.

Fit sessions and clear sample corrections that protect design intent.

06Costing
Fabric$4.60Trims$0.90CMT$3.20Wash$0.55FOB$9.50

Commercial from the start.

Costing, negotiation, MOQs and production planning.

07Bulk & Delivery

On the rail.

Suppliers, quality and timing managed through to final delivery.

08Bill of materialsServices

Everything that goesinto the garment.

  1. 01Creative & Design DirectionSeasonal vision, trend direction, colour and product stories, set out so the whole team can work to them.Brands
  2. 02Range ArchitectureCollection planning built around your customer, price points and trading data.Both
  3. 03Tech Packs & SpecificationsFactory-ready tech packs, measurement specs and construction detail that samples come back right from.Both
  4. 04Fabric, GSM & Trim SourcingFabrics, weights, trims and components sourced to the brief and the budget.Both
  5. 05Sampling, Fit & CorrectionsFit sessions and sample reviews, with clear corrections that protect the design intent.Both
  6. 06Costing, MOQ & NegotiationCommercial costing, price negotiation and production planning that hold up at bulk.Factories
  7. 07Factory & Supplier ManagementFinding the right partners, then managing approvals, quality and timing through to delivery.Brands
  8. 08Team Leadership & MentoringBuilding, leading and mentoring design teams across menswear, womenswear and youth.Both

Designed for, with or inside

Ellesse✳Nautica✳Rapha✳Sweaty Betty✳Gymshark✳Jack Wills✳Nicce✳boohooMAN✳Missguided✳PrettyLittleThing✳Nasty Gal✳Lipsy London✳JD Williams✳City Chic✳Fashion Nova✳Gumball 3000✳Gloria Jeans✳
10Sign-offApproval

Ready forsampling?

karmpreetgill [at] hotmail.co.uk