Apparel Solutions and Apparel Press are run by Niki Tait, C.Text, FTI, FCFI, who following 30 years in the apparel industry, has achieved a unique blend of manufacturing, managerial, technical and IT expertise, with all projects being personally managed and all writing personally carried out.
 
Niki attended the London College of Fashion in the seventies where she successfully completed the Clothing Institute’s four year degree level course in clothing management and technology. During this time she also learnt to 'earn her money’ on a machine in a piecework situation (an experience she has always found invaluable).

After leaving college she went into factory management and then into industrial engineering, training and project management. Becoming increasingly interested in the need for good systems and information she joined an apparel industry specific software house, first as implementation manager and then moved into system design and sales.

During 1991 she started her own consultancy business, Apparel Solutions, helping companies in all aspects of shop floor production and management, though specializing in 'Quick Response’ manufacturing, and information technology applications.

Following a few years as Deputy Editor of ‘Apparel International’, at that time the International Textile Institute’s clothing industry journal, she set up Apparel Press, a professional free lance provider of apparel industry specialist technical writing.

Niki's experience covers nearly all aspects of apparel manufacturing and information technology and she has been involved with products from made to measure medical corsetry, tailoring and light clothing, knitwear, footwear, homewear, trimmings and components, short run, high fashion and bulk production, through to cat aerobic furniture!

Niki was awarded the Fellowship of the Clothing and Footwear Institute in 1987, followed by the Fellowship of the International Chartered Institute of Textiles in 1994.

What the customers say:

Sam Jackson, Managing Director, Prologic
'Niki has a very thorough and deep knowledge of almost every aspect of clothing manufacturing. As important as her theoretical know how is her ability to communicate with people at all levels within an organisation and to assimilate and synthesise a complete picture of the operation, working practice, management structure and areas that are in need of improvement or overhaul. Niki has approached all the work she has done for us in a professional and thorough manner and we have every intention of using her services in the future.

'I can thoroughly recommend Niki to anyone looking for advice and know how within the clothing manufacturing arena’.

John Scrimshaw, Editor, Fashion Business International
‘I confirm that Niki Tait is a regular contributor to Fashion Business International, writing on topics including sewing production technology, factory organisation, materials and general industry matters. In my experience, she is probably the most expert contributor on these topics to the world's English language apparel media.

‘ Fashion Business International is a business and technology magazine, covering all aspects of apparel design, sourcing, production and distribution. It circulates worldwide, but its emphasis is on European companies involved in collection development and international sourcing.'

Jim Tew, Manufacturing Director, Speedo International
‘We found Niki extremely able and easy to work with. Her interpersonal skills enabled her to work equally well with Senior, Middle and Line managers. She also interacted extremely well with the operators. Her ability to put training into a practical context was of particular help during the early stages of the project.

‘Her ability to diagnose problems and arrive at practical solutions was exceptional and of particular help when doubts were being expressed at various levels about the viability of the project. When completed Niki retained an interest in the ongoing performance of the project and has to this day retained contact with us, not to try to generate more business for herself but out of professional interest in the job we completed together.

‘I would have no hesitation in employing Niki's services in the future if the need arises and would certainly recommend her to any organisation in need of her skills to supplement their own resources in a project’.

Kathleen S. Desmarteau, Editor in Chief, Apparel Magazine
‘As the editor in chief of Apparel Magazine, a monthly publication serving approximately 18,000 subscribers in the United States, I have relied many times on the work of Ms. Niki Tait of Apparel Solutions/Apparel Press for editorial coverage of trends.

‘Our publication, which focuses on the business and technology trends of the apparel business, has contracted with Ms. Tait on many occasions over the years on a free-lance basis for articles on a wide range of subjects, from company profiles to executive question-and-answer pieces to country reports, particularly about international markets.

‘Ms. Tait is well respected in the apparel industry for her knowledge of the many facets of the supply chain, and for her thorough approach to investigating and exploring her subject matter’.

John Gamester, Managing Director, Peter Reed Group
‘Niki Tait carried out two projects for me whilst I was Managing Director of Peter Reed Group Ltd.

‘ The first of these was to specify a computer system to cover sales administration, planning, stock control, etc. The work was carried out to our entire satisfaction and on time. Niki's knowledge of IT proved to be excellent and she was quickly able to identify 2/3 potential suppliers of off the shelf systems which would meet our requirements.

‘The second project was to re-organise our hemming room both to improve production and reduce lead times. Niki identified a number of areas where we could make immediate savings and was able to coach our staff to implement the necessary changes.

‘I therefore have no hesitation in recommending Apparel Solutions for any work in the sewing industry either relating to the factory floor or IT’.

Leonie Barrie, Managing Editor, just-style.com
‘Niki Tait is a long-standing contributor to just-style.com, writing features and in-depth reports about a range of issues impacting the apparel industry including manufacturing, technology, sourcing and company profiles.

‘Her experience and knowledge on the industry, and her contacts within it, make her an invaluable member of the just-style.com editorial team.

‘Just-style.com is an online information service providing news, comment and analysis on the global textile and clothing industry. The site covers the entire garment supply chain, from fibres and fabrics through production to retail, and is read by executives from the world’s leading retail and supply organisations’.

Michael Butterworth, Managing Director, Burberry Socks
‘Niki Tait was employed by the Burberry Sock Division to carry out an in-depth review of its production methods.

‘The way she tackled this project was extremely professional, and enabled us to considerably reduce our Work In Progress time throughout the factory.

‘Her attention to detail and understanding of a textile environment was a great asset throughout the project.

‘I would have no hesitation in recommending Niki to you because of her professional and down to earth approach’.

Robin Anson, Managing Director, Textile Intelligence
‘ Niki Tait is employed by Textiles Intelligence as a freelance contributor. Many of her reports have been published in Textile Outlook International – a bi-monthly publication which contains research-based business information, data and analysis on the global fibre, textile and apparel industries.

‘Textile Outlook International is used by senior executives, economists and consultants who require reliable and accurate information about the industry, in order for them to plan their future strategies. Niki writes about the textile and garment industries in a wide range of geographical areas. We and our subscribers find Niki's reports particularly interesting and useful because of the information she obtains from factory visits as well as desk research’.

Jim McCracken, Udaras na Gaeltachta
‘This organisation has used Apparel Solutions to investigate a large clothing company which was having numerous problems, low productivity, increasing costs and low employee morale.

‘The work carried out was precise, clearly stated and very clear recommendations were made to rectify the poor situation that was found.

‘Niki Tait amply demonstrated that she has a wide experience of the whole clothing industry and its technology. Her work in a target company is non disruptive and she has excellent interpersonal skills that she uses with everyone she comes in contact with - both shop floor and senior management.

‘I would have no hesitation in using her services for any other company we deal with and would recommend her to any company that has a problem and needs to have the problem identified and recommendations made on how to cure the problem’.