Supporting the Next Generation of Textile Designers: The Story Behind Our Graduate Plan
Breaking into the design industry can feel like standing at the edge of a vast, beautiful - yet profoundly overwhelming - world.
It's a feeling our founders, Tracey Brown (of Bay & Brown), James Hartley, and Tom Bambridge-Sutton (of Gather No Moss), understood deeply when they launched The Pattern Cloud Graduate Plan in 2021.
The seed for this initiative was planted during their participation in New Designers, London’s annual showcase of the UK’s most exciting emerging talent. There, amidst a vibrant explosion of bold ideas, fresh perspectives, and raw creative energy, a clear realization emerged: many of these gifted graduates possessed immense vision and skill, but lacked a vital component - a platform to truly launch their careers.
So, they set out to give them just that. They envisioned a bridge - not just a stepping stone - that would connect promising new talent with the established industry, fostering growth and accelerating creative journeys.
Where Vision Meets Opportunity: Inside the Graduate Plan
The Graduate Plan was conceived as a genuine hand up - a real-world springboard for textile design graduates. It’s more than a portfolio space; it’s a low-barrier, high-impact way to step into the industry with confidence and purpose.
For a recent graduate, joining the Graduate Plan is straightforward and empowering:
Your Professional Showcase
Graduates gain access to their own dedicated, professional space within The Pattern Cloud. It’s a meticulously designed platform where they can upload their collections, present their unique creative voice, and showcase their technical proficiency. Think of it as their first bespoke digital studio - ready for the world to see.
Industry Exposure
Their work gains immediate exposure to an extensive network of international buyers, creative brands, and licensing agents who actively source designs through The Pattern Cloud.
Understanding What Buyers Want
Beyond simply displaying work, the Graduate Plan provides invaluable, real-time data and analytics. Graduates can see which designs are generating interest, what types of buyers are engaging, and even where in the world their audience is.
This isn't just about sales, it’s about understanding market trends, refining their aesthetic, and learning what resonates with potential clients.
For example, they might notice a certain color palette or motif performing exceptionally well - offering useful direction for their next collection.
A Foundation for Growth
What often begins as a testbed for early collections frequently blossoms into a thriving design business. As graduates grow in confidence and refine their voice, many transition to our Individual platform, equipped with insights and experience to take on more clients and scale their collections.
This seamless progression ensures continuous support as their careers evolve.
Fueling Fresh Perspectives and Industry Evolution
By actively scouting and nurturing new talent, The Pattern Cloud ensures a constant influx of fresh ideas, innovative techniques, and diverse aesthetics into the market.
Graduates often bring a contemporary sensibility, unburdened by industry conventions, which challenges the status quo and pushes creative boundaries. This infusion of new energy doesn’t just keep the platform vibrant - it drives the evolution of trends.
Early engagement data from emerging designers offers a live pulse on what’s new and next, helping buyers and studios alike stay connected to the future of textile design.
Continuing the Mission: Our 2025 Graduate Award
This year, we returned to New Designers, this time to the Tex+ showcase, where we had the privilege of awarding a new graduate a free subscription to kickstart their studio.
It was a powerful reminder of why this initiative exists: to help promising designers build not just portfolios - but sustainable, fulfilling careers.
Our Enduring Commitment
At The Pattern Cloud, we wholeheartedly believe that talent should always be met with opportunity. It’s about building a bridge between the vibrant world of education and the dynamic landscape of industry, sending a clear message:
You belong here. And we’re here to help you thrive.
We’re committed to continuing this mission - discovering new voices, nurturing emerging studios, and offering a platform that evolves with our designers from their very first upload to their first international sale (and well beyond).
Are you a recent graduate eager to launch your studio and take that next step in shaping the future of textile design?
We’d be honored to support your journey. The Graduate Plan is designed to meet you exactly where you are - and empower you to grow from there.
👉Contact us and discover how the Graduate Plan can help you launch your studio.