SMARTWAY CONSULTING

I've been working with Emma for 3 seasons now, having received two seperate recommendations for Smartway Consulting. It has felt more like having an in-house production manager rather than working with an external consultant - Emma is very hands on and very much part of the team. Working with Smartway has enabled us access to the types of factories and production processes that we needed but wouldn't have otherwise been able to either find or manage. As a young business, we have to be very cautious with resources and financial outlay, but working with Emma has and continues to be extremely effective and efficient.

Charli Cohen, Founder Charli Cohen

We have been working with Smartway since 2014 and they have been key to the success of our brand. Emma knew that fabric quality was of paramount importance to us and with her extensive knowledge base and network of contacts was able to find exactly what we were looking for.

Emma is amazing to work with and has helped us navigate our way from concept to shop floor. She is proactive, knowledgeable with excellent attention to detail. She has been incredibly patient with our last minute requests whilst also giving us realistic deadlines.

We could not recommend Emma and her team at Smartway more highly and we look forward to continuing to grow our brand and business with their help, support and guidance

Ben Godwin, Co Founder St Berts

The first thing Emma did was to standardise all sizing for Asquith and re-do all specs. The fit and specs are now in excellent shape and sizing consistent on all styles.

Emma has great attention to detail; she is fast, efficient, hard working but also extremely creative and boy does she know jersey and how it works! Emma can immediately see what's wrong with a garment fit and how to make changes and improve. She has a great eye. She has also helped me source fabrics and streamline the collection.

Emma also takes the very real and tiring pressure of the factory off your back. She negotiates and liaises with the factory on your behalf. After working in production for over 14 years I know how many headaches this can mean. Emma will negotiate and work hard for you.

Alice Asquith, Founder, Asquith London

Emma (Smartway Consulting) have provided us with a professional and reliable service from design though to production removing the risk and unknown from product development. All factory conversations, prototypes and fittings have reminded us of such a valuable service.

Daniel Puddick, Founder , Sundried

I can recommend Emma as both very professional and has helped us with her knowledge in starting our running brand RunBreeze. She has always communicated well and has been a pleasure to work with. We plan to continue to work with her.

Jamie Smalley, Founder, RunBreeze and Runderwear

Emma has been a fantastically valued service supplier for us for the last 8 years. She brings an amazing depth of product knowledge, a broad supply base and creative/styling ideas to the table. We would definitely recommend her services to anyone looking for good quality maternity/activewear/nightwear production

Jules Canterbury, Managing Director., Amoralia Limited

There are many aspects involved in running a clothing brand, however the most important factor is obviously the product. Making sure that your products are great means you need to good manufacturing sources and to do this we work with Emma at Smartway Consulting.

Emma controls the entire manufacturing process for us from design spec to bulk product delivery. Without her involvement, we would not be able to source the great quality products that XINX prides itself upon.

Nick Jelley, Managing Director, XINX

Smartway have guided the development and production side of the SALT collection from the initial range plan through to delivery of goods in store.
Emma is a pleasure to work with, she has a great knowledge of fashion; with great style and fabrication credentials. But most importantly a positive and fun attitude - thank you! 

Paul Charles, Creative Director, Salt and The Sports Edit

Smartway provide Amoralia with invaluable assistance in the production process for our nightwear and swimwear ranges – from design input, and arranging design packs and samples; to sourcing and production.
With strong supplier relationships – Smartway have proved to be an asset to Amoralia in sourcing the right factory to help create our vision for our nightwear range in particular. They are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that the product we receive is according to our high standards of quality and design.
They are resourceful, proactive, reliable and supportive. With their vast experience and knowledge of the local retail market as well as international manufacturers – Smartway has proved a very useful asset to growing our business.

Mandy Lishman, Operations and Production Manager, Amoralia

Smartway Consulting were instrumental in the early stages of developing our ethical lifestyle brand FROM CLOTHING. Emma’s extensive experience and contacts removed all the difficulties we were having trying to source materials and manufacture premium quality lifestyle garments. Her expert advice guided us through the whole manufacturing process; from fabric sourcing right through to final garment production, she ensured our specific requirements and brand aims were met. With her on trend knowledge, she is an encyclopaedia of information and never reserved in helping where she can, including marketing ideas and contacts.

Su Dodds, Managing Director, From Clothing

Silverstick has been working with Smartway Consulting for 3 years. Emma has excellent technical knowledge and skills. She handles all our tech packs and grading, as well as managing our production and sampling in Portugal. Her attention to detail is excellent and her experience for a new company like ours is very handy to tap into to.

Sam Varney. Co Founder, Silverstick.co.uk

Emma Wilson of Smartway Consulting have helped us transform our clothing range at Bb London and been amazing to work with. Emma is thoughtful, creative and ingenious at finding solutions. We have been obsessed with details and quality and she has really worked within our vision to deliver. I love the fact that she’s never scared to suggest a point of view or a way of improving things, but equally she understands when budgets can’t be as huge as we’d like them to be & she also knows that things need to happen on time – and she does everything she can to make them happen. She is very calm and pragmatic and has been a real pleasure to work with as well as an integral part of our team.

Sophie Devonshire, Director, Babeswitbabies.com

Emma not only understands the production process inside out but adds value to the design aesthetic and overall commerciality of each unique brand she works with. She has a fantastic attention to detail and is a pleasure to work with.

Michelle Baartz Director and Founder, Heritage-Cloth Global Branding and Fashion Agency

Smartway Consulting has been an integral part of Melba Maternity’s team since we started trading in October 2004 with our stylish range of maternity and breastfeeding clothing– involved in all aspects of design, sourcing, sampling, production and new product development. Smartway is now a valued and irreplaceable part of the Melba team and increasingly work with us in a consultancy capacity as we work to drive our business forward both internationally and at home. Smartway is always proactive, competent and reliable and with their strong supplier relationships, and this has proved invaluable to us as we have worked to grow our product range in these challenging economic times.

Rebecca Oehrle, Founder and Managing Director, Melba Maternity (UK) Ltd

Smartway were instrumental in the launch of sweatyBetty’s own label.  They helped SB take the brand from just a few logoed T shirts to a wide offering which included skiwear, swimwear and technical running clothes as well as yogawear.  They were, in effect, sweatyBetty’s outsourced “product development department”, responsible for the whole process, from taking initial designs right through to delivery into the warehouse.  As sweatyBetty had only an inexperienced team in product development (sB’s skills being in buying brands and retailing them), they were crucial to the success of sB own label.  (sB has 95% own label apparel now). They were always hardworking, reliable, quick to respond and had great relationships with the suppliers. The team was industrious and commercially aware and had a good all-round business knowledge.

Tamara Hill-Norton, Founder Sweaty Betty