Karen Huggins describes how GCDA Learning helped build her confidence and provided her with a safe space to explore her ideas.
Some of you may know Karen Huggins as a GCDA arts and crafts tutor. A super-talented sewist too, Karen is something of a dark horse when it comes to her own skills. But that’s all about to change as she launches her own childrenswear label later this year. Little Huggins showcases Karen’s colourful, practical and playful kids’ clothing range, which she designs and makes herself at her fully equipped Thames Side Studio in SE18. But it’s not her first creative business.
Back in the 90’s the entrepreneurial Karen also created clothes for plus size women whilst working at Greenwich Council, then simultaneously juggled night shifts at the Woolwich Building Society whilst studying fashion and training as a teacher.
“I’ve always sewn, thanks to my mother who used to make my clothes out of weird and wonderful 70’s fabric on her Pfaff machine. My first course was at Greenwich Community College where I learned how to use commercial dressmaking patterns. I was then persuaded to go on to University and ended up doing an HND in Fashion Design and Technology at Kent Institute of Art and Design. People had always suggested I go into teaching, and in spite of resisting the idea, I eventually decided to give it a go. I enrolled for a diploma in teacher training, again at Greenwich Community College. I started out by teaching BTEC sewing at Lewisham College, and other jobs followed. Before working with GCDA I was with London South East Colleges.”
“In March 2020 I had Covid and then I was made redundant from LSEC. Three years later, I was out shopping in Powis Street and walked past one of GCDA's community centres, Woolwich Front Room. It wasn’t actually open at the time, but Mel Taylor (Head of GCDA Learning) happened to be there and she welcomed me in. She suggested I send in a CV and although there were no sewing jobs going at the time, she proposed that I teach the Arts and Crafts course!”
As well as teaching for GCDA, Karen also found herself becoming a GCDA learner. Seeing the great variety of options on offer, she enrolled on several GCDA courses including social media, business start-up, book keeping and product marketing.
“GCDA courses are really accessible and hands on, and they’re all FREE which is utterly amazing! I like the fact that the tutors all have lived experience which really benefits learners, and I love the camaraderie too. My most recent course was Taking Your Product to Market with Mary Jane Baxter, which given I’m about to launch Little Huggins, was incredibly useful. It really helped me to focus on my business story so that I could create greater impact. It built up my confidence and provided everyone with a safe space to explore their ideas.”
Karen is certainly not short on those! From portable pillows (Big Hugs), to push chair blankets with arm holes in them (Buggy Blankets), Karen’s creativity never stops.
“I don’t need computers. My mind is my software tool. I’m always jotting down new ideas for Little Huggins, sketching out designs and making them up. If they don’t work immediately, I don’t bin them. I save all my prototypes because I never know when they’ll inspire me a second time round. Making a kids’ label has allowed me to become a child again, and to fully explore my creativity. I really identify with children’s playful nature and their need for freedom. Practicality and ease of movement are high up my list too.”
We wish Karen all the very best with her new venture and can’t wait to see her kids’ clothes being worn and enjoyed by all little people. You can purchase Karen’s new children’s clothes at our Made in Greenwich shop (31 Royal Hill SE10 8RR), and you can also visit her website here. For GCDA's wide range of courses please click on the button below.
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