South West competition winner, Joshua Riches, and 12 2nd Year Bath Spa Uni design students were invited to FashionCapital's workshop and factory on Monday (18th April) for a real insight into garment production.

The students from the Fashion Design degree course, led by Louise Pickles, were given a tour of the cut-make-and trim workshop and neighbouring factory. They also met with FashionCapital director Jenny Holloway and British Designers Boutique manager JoJo Iles for individual crit sessions on an external design project currently underway with the company.

Jenny talks pattern pieces at the Workshop

The students have been asked to design a 6-piece range for either ASOS Black or Belles of London. The deadline for the project is 20th May where students will receive final grades and one capsule range will be carefully selected to go into production. Jenny Holloway commented; "We hope to provide real insight into the inner workings of manufacturing for these students. We see designers time and time again that have no clue when it comes to manufacturing and to succeed it is fundamental that they understand how it all works. The standard of work from the Bath Spa students has been highly impressive and I look forward to viewing their final designs in May."

Boutique manager JoJo Iles added; "It is fantastic to see such a high level of design coming from Bath Spa Uni. We find that customers respond well to pieces that have local origins and I am really looking forward to seeing the final capsule-ranges next month."

Student Chloe Jones shows her inspiration

Jenny Holloway has recently joined forces with ASOS the country's biggest online fashion retailer, to create the UK's first National Apprenticeship in Fashion and Textiles. The apprentices will be working between the departments at the ASOS headquarters near Regent's Park and the Fashion Capital factory in North London, where capacity is set to double by the end of the year.

Jenny comments: "The industry has seen an increased demand for local production which is fantastic but for UK based manufacturers to sustain their businesses we need more individuals trained in garment-manufacturing skills – this is where projects like the Apprenticeship scheme become vital."

Meanwhile, competition winner Joshua Riches met with production manager Kosa Ralevic and her team to begin sampling on his capsule collection. On winning the competition Joshua said he "was over the moon" and once manufactured his range will be available to buy in the British Designers @ FashionCapital boutique in Milsom Place, Bath. Check out all the latest developments on the British Designers Bath blog: http://www.fashioncapital.co.uk/Industry/BritishDesignersFCBoutique/Bath.html