Former Whistles MD Helen Williamson has returned to her native North East coast as a ‘fractional’ managing director for lifestyle brand Tutti.
Helen Williamson
Her arrival coincides with the brand’s new concept store and studio located at Harbour House in the heart of the regeneration of local fishing port North Shields, near Newcastle.
Williamson, who brings over 30 years’ exec-level experience and expertise in the fashion industry (Whistles, Hobbs and Ted Baker), has made the journey to her native North East “to give back my experience in the fashion industry and help more scaling businesses achieve success”.
She adds: “We are seeing the growth of many more regional brands. The North West and Midlands have generated some very well-known success stories, and I’d like to see that replicated in the North East. As the industry evolves beyond London, the emergence of fast-growing regional brands gives more people opportunity to build careers closer to home.”
Tutti founder Kate Rose added: “Meeting Helen at this point in our brand journey has been pivotal, and I’m excited to work together to realise our ambitions to take Tutti to the next level and become a global lifestyle brand.”
The store/studio opening marks the brand’s 21st year celebration with the Harbour House space becoming part of a reimagined market building turned into a “vibrant hub of lifestyle businesses”.
Rose also said: “Finding the right home was crucial. I would never have just picked a pretty store on a High Street for the brand, which is why we’ve never had our own shop until now – but this space is more than a store, it sums up a lifestyle. We have designed our studio and concept store to be a calming space that creates an emotional connection, where customers can see our designers at work.”
