"I was born in Wakefield West Yorkshire, I have grown up in the area so it's where my roots are. I'm a Yorkshire lass with a passion for fashion and teaching. I studied at The University of Huddersfield graduating in 2006 with a first class Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Fashion Design with Marketing, Promotion and Manufacture. Almost immediately after graduating I secured a role as an assistant designer for Yorkshire based denim brand Mish Mash Jeans where I worked for 5 years. In November 2010 I decided to change my direction slightly by starting a new role of Cad Project Manager working part time for Stalybridge based PHDesigns Ltd, a high-end mountaineering made to order company. Here I was able to progress further with my CAD/CAM Skills in Pattern Cutting which I had touched on in University and trained with Wakefield based business Assyst Bulmer. At this time I also made the decision to start my own business, firstly starting out offering a bespoke service creating individual pieces at my clients requests under my Lisa Gilbert label."

"My Business as Yorkshire Born and Thread actually started in 2017 when I wanted to move into different areas of freelance design, ideas for teaching and creating product for others away from my own Lisa Gilbert label. I also wanted to focus more on Yorkshire Manufacturing, promoting British Made Product and the need for us to bring more of these skills back. Yorkshire Born & Thread are passionate about design, pattern cutting, sewing, crafting and making, basically anything creative!  We offer design services, sample development, pattern/grading work for other brands to start their British Manufacturing journey. We also offer options for private tutoring or teaching sewing/pattern cutting workshops to individuals or groups. Yorkshire Born & Thread started to grow more when a local Fabric/Haberdashery Shop opened and I put myself/my business (Yorkshire Born & Thread) forward, offering to teach some sewing related workshops. In this role I was able to spend time with fellow passionate sewists, seeing that the locals and so many more from further afield were passionate to learn different skills/techniques for making their own creations with a need for new challenges and different projects to try. I wanted to share my skills and knowledge, giving learners the confidence to achieve their creative desires and most of all making their own sewing experiences enjoyable! My aim was to help & inspire all generations, any age, any gender to be more creative, passing on the practical skills needed to make things by hand."

"We make a variety of items including craft items, clothing, homeware textiles, dog beds, with so many different requests we like the variety and challenges that come with it. One project we had was to make costumes for a majorettes dance troupe, this was a huge amount of work but fun at the same time, allowing me to look back at my tailoring skills, creating outfits that they loved and even won top marks for from the judges for their outfits. All our products are made in our West Yorkshire based studio and where possible sourcing local or British made fabrics/haberdashery but still using some components sourced/made worldwide. Here at Yorkshire Born & Thread we want to promote our #madeinyorkshire #madeinbritain products to really show folk what talented creative skills we have here in Wakefield, Yorkshire & the UK."

"We run most of our workshops in our she shed studio HQ, with it’s great views across the countryside, it's the perfect sewing retreat. With space for a smaller more intimate group, giving each individual more attention. There are several options for beginners, intermediate or advanced sewing, overlocking & pattern cutting to name a few."

"I already have a wide set of skills, qualifications and experiences within the fashion/manufacturing industry which have put me where I am today. I’m very grateful to the companies that took that chance and gave me the opportunity to work with them and grow. I love what I do, I also really enjoy teaching others the skills and knowledge I know myself. This always makes it more enjoyable and easier for others to learn when a teacher is passionate about the subject they are teaching. Exciting things for me personally at the moment would be that I’m also studying part time, as I decided to officially get my teaching qualifications, to help grow as a teacher. Which may then open up other opportunities with teaching in my subject area, allowing me to work at different levels and with other organisations."

"At some point, I would also love to finally get around to launching my own clothing label, Reesa. Obviously produced here in West Yorkshire!"

To find out more about Yorkshire Born & Thread and to see examples of their brilliant work, please visit: www.yorkshirebornandthread.co.uk