Fashion Talks: Katie Greenyer, Pentland Brands

Location: EB_M01

No masterplan. Plenty of wrong turns. Lots of saying yes, even if she should have said no!

Katie Greenyer shares the highs, the mistakes and the unexpected opportunities behind a 30 year creative career. A very personal story about curiosity, finding your superpower, backing yourself and why the best careers are rarely a straight line.

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.

Speaker:

Katie Greenyer is Creative Talent & Legacy Director for the Pentland Group, where she leads global creative talent strategy and the preservation of the company’s extraordinary creative heritage.

Katie began her career at Red or Dead, the iconic British streetwear brand acquired by Pentland in 1996, developing textiles, products and campaigns across a global portfolio including Speedo, Canterbury, Berghaus, ellesse, Kickers, Mitre, Endura and Lacoste. She later became Creative Director of Red or Dead, leading brand direction, product and licensing, and delivering commercial success.

In 2002, Katie founded Pentland’s in house apprenticeship scheme, Design Pool, which has since launched the careers of more than 200 creatives worldwide and created a thriving global alumni community. Today, she leads creative talent strategy across Pentland’s brands, championing diversity, mobility, opportunity and the skills needed for the future.

Katie has also played a pivotal role in shaping Pentland’s workplaces and culture, leading the design and delivery of its London headquarters alongside workplace projects across cities including Hong Kong, Paris and New York. Her work has received the British Council for Offices Awards, alongside wider industry recognition.

Today, Katie also leads Pentland’s global archive and digitisation programme, bringing together almost a century of product, design, innovation, people and stories. The work preserves Pentland’s cultural and social legacy since 1932, while opening up the archive to inspire future generations.

A passionate advocate for design education, opportunity and social mobility, Katie works extensively across industry and academia to champion creative careers. She is a past World President of the Textile Institute, Chair of Judges for the Cordwainers Footwear Awards, Trustee of The National Saturday Club and TEX+, and an Honorary Fellow of Plymouth University. She has been granted the Freedom of the City of London through the Worshipful Company of Cordwainers and is host of the podcast series In Their Shoes.

In summer 2026, Katie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by University of the Arts London in recognition of her contribution to the creative industries.

Her passion for design, storytelling and people, combined with an instinct for spotting and nurturing talent, has been a constant throughout her career. At the heart of it all is a simple belief: talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.

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