Peter Martin
Peter has been in the textile and apparel industry since the 1960’s.
Originally learning the manufacturing processes & heading up a marketing company converting technical fabrics, he realised that production was moving overseas.
He established contacts in Europe and the Far East which allowed him to offer the UK excellent sources of products for the design and development departments at the main brands, high street retailers and store groups. Over time he oversaw the transition of the company to become a first rate agency representing key manufacturers from all over the world who wanted to do Business in the UK and Ireland.
Currently offering branded fabrics, packaging, trimmings and components, Peter is the consummate professional and has established a reputation for prompt service combined with a wide experience of the Industries he represents & supplies.
Peter was born in Ashford Middlesex. His Family were based near what became Heathrow Airport during the period of the development of Jet powered commercial aircraft.
He had wanted to be a Pilot but eventually satisfied his desire for travel by becoming involved in Exports where over the past 40 years he has visited more than 70 Countries.
Married, with 3 children, he lives in London. He concentrates on work but also enjoys sport and travel.
A passionate fan of The Arsenal, he also plays Golf but with the Handicap of someone who works long hours & doesn’t practice enough.
E: peter@pematex.co.uk | M: +44 (0) 7703 503981
Natalie Rowan
BA Hons IND
When your childhood memories mostly consist of fabric rolls and sample cards some would say my future in textiles was sealed at a young age!
The family business has always been a huge part of my life; I used to help out in the factory (driving the fork lift truck mostly!) and then in the office as a teenager and this gave me a fantastic grounding in the textile industry. I knew that I wanted to get a good global look at the industry so after completing my Fashion and Textile Management degree at Leeds University in 2001 I took a position as Buyer’s Assistant at the House of Fraser group working on men’s own brand, Linea. During my degree I took part in the placement programme, first completing 6 weeks work experience at Drapers Record magazine (it didn’t take me long to realise not being able to spell was a big problem in the world of fashion journalism!) followed by one year as a Buyer’s Administration Assistant at Debenhams PLC in the ladieswear division. In 2003 I felt I had gained enough experience in the industry to bring something really useful to the family business and took up my position in the June of that year.
The last 9 years has seen so many changes in the Agency, evolving from a mostly European Agency to a now, global source of products. The biggest change has been the products we offer, 2010 seeing the first non textile division of the agency, a very exciting challenge that has been very rewarding.
At the end of 2011 I was very proud to be made a Partner and now, along with Peter and Fiona, will help shape the agency for the future.
E: natalie@pematex.co.uk | M: +44 (0) 7765 254905
Fiona Martin
Born on Valentine’s Day into a Scottish family with seven Brothers & Sisters, young Miss Fiona Anne Gibson had a boisterous family life where you needed to be strong and assertive to survive.
She demonstrates both those characteristics in her day-to-day life.
Fiona acquired her Textile & Business experience as an Administrator in Companies both in the UK & Canada where she worked in both Montreal and Vancouver.
She became Production Manager for an Industrial Textile Company based in London where she met Peter who was the Export Sales Manager at the time.
They married in 1977 a few days after Elvis Presley had died. Fiona had seen Elvis in Concert at Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
She retains a deep affection for The United States where she & Peter are regular visitors.
Possessing a fierce sense of fairness & a belief in good service & honesty she has a wonderful, quick repartee & highly developed, if acerbic, sense of humour. She is the perfect foil for Peter’s diplomacy & tact.
She is very intuitive, as well as perceptive. What you see is what you get with her directness and she is seldom short of an opinion.
Fiona is the Agency’s Financial Controller & she watches over the Administration & Credit Controls to ensure that whilst Turnover is Vanity, Profit is Sanity.
E: fiona@pematex.co.uk
Barnaby Edward Rowan
When I joined the company back in 2010 it was a totally different ball game (i love ball games). The agency was mostly fashion based, concentrating on labels, buttons and linings which I liked to chew on from time to time but nothing that really stimulated my curious mind. Then came packaging. Now you are talking, I thought, boxes I can climb in, bags i can play with, umbrella’s to chew, suit covers i can lie on, it was like a doggy play centre.
I take my role as “silent partner” very seriously, I like to over-see all aspects of the business, I have a keen nose for what sells and as I have 4 paws, maths is much easier for me than humans. I don’t deal with customers directly on a day to day basis but I will agree to meetings at a park in special circumstances.
I am looking forward to all the challenges I face in the future with this unique and fast paced agency. It is true, I am very excited that a well known Dog Food manufacturer is sampling a carton with us for their new “premium executive” dog range (an idea based on high flying dogs like myself) but I don’t like to limit myself to just dog related business. I am also working closely with a plastic squeaky toy company.
I look forward to working with you in the future,
Yours Barnaby Edward Rowan - You may call me Barney or the “bear”
Age 8 and a half years
Mark Dodds
Fabric Technologist, Sourcing and Production consultant
Throughout my career I have built up an extensive database of contacts within the supply chain for mass market and high end products and have long standing relationships with many suppliers across the world. As the owner of an independent fashion label I am also able to advise on the best course of action with regards to sales, marketing, government assistance and strategy and have built up a good contact list within all of these fields. I am happy to be part of the Pematex team, helping to build relationships with their extensive portfolio of clients and products.