Hilly Clothing Ltd was founded in 1996 to design and manufacture, under the ‘Hilly Clothing’ brand, functional running accessories.

One of the top three suppliers of technical performance socks, the company sells its products to the public via the specialist sports trade. Unique to Hilly is its reputation for providing innovative, technical and performance products of good quality. Coupled with this is its excellent service and knowledge of customer demand.

Hilly Clothing Ltd formed a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the School of Art and Design at the University of Salford. The aim of this two year partnership was to design and develop a complete range of technical performance apparel encompassing the implementing of a New Product Development (NPD) process.

The project started with the appointment of the Associate, Andrew Dudgeon. Andrew’s work on the project included:

• The implementation of a NPD process

• Broadening the current portfolio

• The re-design and development of current product lines

As a result of the KTP the Design Department is now able to produce detailed, technical, computerised garment specifications, both as a result of the library of CAD images that have been developed and also from new CAD images that they are able to produce.

These specifications can be sent to suppliers with all of the relevant information about the product. This has aided other members of staff/departments. For example Quality Control and Sourcing. When finished garments are delivered by suppliers, staff are now able to accurately check them against the garment specifications to ensure that the bulk production is correct. This will help to ensure that the company ethos of offering quality garments to its customers can now be further advanced and on a more structured basis.

The success of Andrew’s new lines have led to many positive reviews in key running publications and most importantly led to an increase in sales and market share. Andrew found the skills and knowledge he gained during his studying for a BSc in Design, to be a significant benefit to the marketing and advertising needs of Hilly, thus reducing the needs to outsource.

A significant development for Hilly was the appointment of Andrew, at the end of the KTP. Andrew is responsible for the development and management of the New Product Development Department. From the Associates perspective this appointment is an acknowledgment of his effort during the two years of the Partnership. The xperience has provided invaluable and wide ranging professional experience in a relatively short period of time; providing strong career opportunities.

The Academic Supervisor Damien Vasey has also reaped substantial rewards from the Partnership. The technical nature of the knowledge transfer has enhanced the BSc Sports Equipment Design Programme.

Contacts made as a result of the KTP now facilitate the opportunity for the level 2 BSc. Sports Equipment design students now participate in a 6 week placement.

The KTP has provided both student project case studies and opened up a number of opportunities for future collaboration.

“The KTP program has provided the perfect environment for career progression whilst introducing me to a range of invaluable experiences within my role as Product Development Manager.

A strong balanced emphasis on both product development and project management has resulted in a stronger design portfolio and a broader managerial skill set”. Andrew Dudgeon, KTP Associate

Case study - Hilly Clothing Ltd