We catch up with Sally Parrish as she flies in from China working on Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 collection.

What was your first job in design?
During university I worked at the Ted Baker store in Covent Garden and in the graphics department at their Head Office. After I graduated, I worked at T.M.Lewin as Assistant Menswear Buyer.

I went on to Turnbull & Asser, doing tie designs for retailers such as Gieves & Hawkes and Marinella. Following a few months in Italy working for a mill designing for the UK market, I was employed by Michelsons as Account Manager designing and selling tie collections for the likes of Austin Reed, Moss Bross, and John Lewis.

The next step was to specialise and I have spent the last 3 years as the Tie Designer at T.M.Lewin.

Where do you get inspiration from?
Looking around at the people on the street, greeting cards, home furnishings, other designers, travel, photography, trade shows and markets.

What are the most popular selling colours/patterns at T.M.Lewin?
Plain satin ties always sell the best in pinks, blues and navys. The favourite designs are always the classic navy with blue or pink stripes/spots – the kind of ties you can match most easily to your shirts.

What’s the best part of your job?
I love seeing my designs when they arrive fresh from the mills.

When the blankets come in with my designs and colourations, it’s really exciting and then I love the selection process and deciding which combinations to go with.

I also love seeing what sells and getting positive comments from the store managers about the new designs. And the best part of all is seeing people in the street or on tv wearing one of my designs.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to become a tie designer?
Study textile design or go to fashion college, or even do an art foundation course to get some knowledge of textiles. I didn’t and was lucky enough to get my experience on the job and progress that way, but it’s a great foundation to work from.

Apart from TML what other designer/retailer do you admire the most?
I love Ralph Lauren, Etro, Richard James and Liberty’s is a fantastic store for everything. I also love Selfridges and when I have time I love to mooch around Dover Street market.

What do you do when you’re not designing ties?
Wear them! I love travelling, going to markets in London such as Portobello Road, or markets wherever I am travelling. I also love shopping for jewellery, bags and shoes – all for inspiration of course! 

What would you be if you weren’t a tie designer?
Definitely something fashion related - I’d like to try PR/marketing as I love communication, interaction and meeting new people.

Or I’d be a stylist as I love helping my friends with their outfits and make-up and I’m always seeing people on the street that I’d love to give a makeover!

What is your proudest achievement?
Graduating with a BA Honours Degree in Design, jumping out of a plane at 15,000 ft, and having my photographs published in a magazine.

What’s your worst ever fashion mistake?
I had an embarrassing phase of wearing jeans that were two sizes too big and then tying them around my waist with a belt as I thought it made me look thinner! It was only when I stopped doing it that my friends admitted how bad it was.

I also used to wear hotpants and mini skirts with ankle boots when I was a teenager which wasn’t cool then but it is now, so I guess I was just ahead of my time!

What was the last fashion item you purchased?
I bought an amazing dress from an independent designer at Spitalfields Market which was a bargain and some shoes from Kate Kanzier.

What are your top 3 ties from the current T.M.Lewin collection?
My favourite collections at the moment are the new slimline John Francomb ties for Christmas which make perfect party ties, the new knitted tie range and the bright ‘feel good factor’ range.