CHSI Stitches Exhibitor List

As TikTok LIVE Partnerships manager, Ore Ade educates and empowers entrepreneurs and creative businesses into expanding into the world of Live-streaming to gain a foothold into the shifting world of social media. She brings her expertise on building authentic communities and monetizing through TikTok LIVE.

Helena is a Strategic Account Manager at TikTok Shop, helping high-potential merchants build strong strategies to grow their business on the platform, focusing on key areas such as affiliate collaborations, livestreaming, advertising tactics, maintaining healthy shop metrics in order to scale their businesses.

Elliot Leavy, visionary founder of ACQUAINTED, is a distinguished tech luminary and AI expert with over a decade of experience, recognised for empowering brands in Generative AI, contributing to AI publications, mentoring at UCL, lecturing at the London Film School, and playing pivotal roles in Mesh-AI and techno-radical journal BOZO. This makes him a sought-after speaker and influential figure in the transformative landscape of technology.

Over the last three years Holly Dennett has grown to be one of the largest online sewing social media accounts, with a current following of over 126,000 followers. She specialises in creating online sewing content and tutorials that inspire and educate the home sewing community on social media. She also has a popular sewing blog and website. Holly is trained in design, pattern cutting, sewing, and graduated in 2020 from the University for the Creative Arts with a high 2:1 in Fashion. Over the last three years she has worked with many sewing brands including Singer, Dyno, The Cotton Craft Co with Simplicity, Fabrics Galore, Sew Over It, Happy Fabrics, Prym, Black and White publishing and is a sewing expert on the ‘Dear Sew’ page in Sew magazine. Holly is currently working on releasing her own line of sewing patterns for the home sewing community. The first collection, a selection of garments that she has made and shared with her audience over the last two years online was launched in Spring 2023. The sewing patterns are PDF downloads available from her website.

Sarah Hurley is the visionary President & CEO of the Sarah Hurley Brands Group. Established in 2010, Sarah used her last £40 to fund her vision of bringing beautiful creative products to the market. Now a multi seven figure global brand creation and licensing company with over 50 unique brands and sales in excess of 30 million licensed products. With licensing, retail, publishing and media divisions and offices in the UK and USA, Sarah Hurley Brands is known for it’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence, having made a lasting impact on the global stage and earning a reputation as a leader in strategic brand growth and the development of unique and engaging brands and products across various categories. Sarah has since gone on to establish the Sarah Hurley Academy to help creative entrepreneurs further their business success via a range of comprehensive courses, resources and events. Sarah now leads a global team, designing every product and creating every brand under the Sarah Hurley banner as well as designing, licensing, writing and consulting for companies worldwide. Sarah is also a published author; Business Advocate, Trend and Market Report publisher (The Hurley Report) and an in demand Global keynote speaker as well as a log serving Board advisor to several Trade Associations.

Sue Balfour is the founder and CEO of Katy Sue Designs, a UK-based company specialising in the design and manufacture of high-quality creative products for the arts and crafts sector. Katy Sue’s product range includes cake decorating silicone moulds, paper craft products, and craft kits. Starting the business from her kitchen table with her mother in 1993, Sue has grown the Katy Sue brand into an internationally recognised business with customers and retail partners worldwide, including a strong presence in the USA. Under Sue’s leadership, Katy Sue Designs has remained committed to British manufacturing and innovation, producing products in-house at their factory in the northeast of England. This achievement was celebrated this year by the UK government in the Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards . The company has won multiple industry awards and is renowned for its inspiring designs, appealing to both professional and hobbyist crafters. Beyond her role at Katy Sue Designs, Sue is an advocate for supporting small creative businesses, sharing insights on product innovation, business growth, and navigating international markets. She brings extensive experience in retail and e-commerce, having successfully expanded the company’s presence on platforms like Shopify, Amazon, and QVC Germany. Sue is also passionate about collaboration, spearheading licensing partnerships that incorporate specialist designers to ensure both product success and an exceptional customer experience.

Susan has been a licensee, agent and a licensor working with and for some of the biggest names in character brand, literary, heritage and sports licensing. Susan began her licensing career at BBC Worldwide managing in-house pre-school brands as part of the Global Brand Development team before going on to Italian publishing house, DeAgostini where she co-ordinated global product rollouts for brands such as STAR WARS and THE LORD OF THE RINGS franchises. Susan spent almost 10 years at award winning global licensing agency, CPLG (now Wildbrain CPLG) as European Publishing Director representing some of Hollywood’s biggest studios including Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and across blockbuster movie franchises such as DESPICABLE ME, SHREK, and STAR TREK . Susan moved to Penguin Random House UK in 2013 where she established the Penguin Ventures team where her remit was to grow the children’s divisions wholly owned brands including PETER RABBIT and THE SNOWMAN, both in the UK and internationally across licensing and consumer products and most recently served as executive producer on the first Peter Rabbit Movie, which took over $350m at the global box office. During Susan’s tenure Penguin Ventures properties won two UK Licensing Awards for Best Classic Licensed Property; PETER RABBIT (2016) and THE SNOWMAN (2019) as well as Best Licensed Film Property for PETER RABBIT: THE RUNAWAY (2021) Susan founded Lightbulb Licensing in 2022 with the aim of using her skills and industry expertise from a career spanning over 25 years to help businesses both large and small shine a light on their own licensing success story.

Paul Currie is a seasoned retail executive and is currently Chairman of Direct On Demand Print, a private business. With a broad career starting with Marks and Spencer, where he had senior leadership roles in stores, buying, franchise development and finally running the European development program based in Paris. He has held Board positions including blue chip international groups; family owned businesses and start-ups. An entrepreneurial leader who creates businesses with strong focus on people and organisational excellence. Significant experience of Omni channel development in his businesses reflecting the changing dynamics of consumer organisations. More recently Paul has focused on turnaround operations. As CEO of Foyles his brief was to develop a transformation strategy involving organisational, culture changes and an invigorated trading focus, returning to profit, leading to a successful sale of the trading business and capital assets in 2018.

Angeline Murphy is a Northern Ireland Designer and Textile Artist. Angeline started sewing in 2005 and has since been showcasing her creations and upcycled designs on her social media channels. She is inspiring and empowering her followers to give sewing a go and inject a second life to their own unworn clothes while reducing the need to buy new. Angeline started sewing to simply turn up trousers but her passion has led her to TV appearances, presentations, hosting workshops and even designing and making wedding dresses. After appearing on BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee Series 4, Angeline wanted to raise awareness of sewing and its benefits for mental health. Through making and mending workshops Angeline continues to spread the word of Sewing. Angeline is a mum of three and works full time as a brand manager. On a daily basis she is surrounded by sustainability and the impact of what we do. This made her question how sustainable fashion is and how she can encourage others to become more sustainable in their everyday life.

For over 20 years, Pete Durant has been a trailblazer in the digital and social revolution, crafting and sharing compelling brand stories. A seasoned Marketing Director, Brand Leader, and Creative Director, Pete has worked with top agency groups like Omnicom, WPP, and IPG Mediabrands, as well as high-profile brands such as Peaky Blinders, MasterChef, Waitrose, Renault Dacia, Comic Relief, and Specsavers. An award-winning marketer and digital content leader, Pete specialises in connecting brands with audiences to drive growth in a crowded, multi-platform world. He believes that creating emotional connections through strong brand foundations is key, using his unique storytelling approach to achieve standout success. Having spoken across the globe—from the USA and Mexico to the UK and Europe—Pete energises audiences with his engaging style, fresh ideas, and practical strategies. From avoiding greenwashing and communicating sustainability, to harnessing the power of social brands and humancentred CX, Pete’s insights deliver real impact. He’s also a committed values and CSR consultant, helping businesses define their purpose and deliver on their promises. Passionate about sustainability, animal advocacy, and positive mental health, Pete is driven to create a better world for all.