How Do You Know if a Factory is Ethical?

21-09-2025

FashionCapital Newsletter

11th April 2018

Dear all,

It’s rather poignant that one of our popular masterclasses, headed up by our own CEO Jenny Holloway, ‘Know Your Ethical Factory’ is scheduled to take place this Friday 13^th April. This month marks the 5^th year anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh where over 1,000 garment workers lost their lives and a further 2,500 were injured. The disaster gave rise to ‘Fashion Revolution Week’ (23-29^th April) to shine the spotlight on unethical manufacturing practices around the globe, an initiative that Fashion Enter has supported from the outset.If you want to know all about working with ethical garment manufacturers, understanding all the processes involved and to ensure a relationship that works for both manufacturer and brand then this is the masterclass for you. To find out more and book your place click here.

Primary Choir To Uplift and Learn This Fashion Revolution Week

The FC and Fashion Enter teams will be joining the revolution this month, transparent and proud we will be sharing posts on ‘who made your clothes’ and showcasing that ethical fashion production is the only way forward for the industry. We are also very excited to welcome the renowned Tiverton Primary Choir to sing on our factory floor on the 24^th April – it will be the first time our staff and learners will be treated to an uplifting, live, choral performance. The group of 8 to 11 year-olds will also be given a tour of the factory and FTA and shown how essential STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are utilized within the fashion industry.

Retail Ready: Stack_N15

Despite all the latest retail casualties on the UK high street recent statistics reveal an optimistic rise in independents and the need for a more immersive and unique shopping experience. Step forward Stack_N15 coming to Tottenham later this year – where FashionCapital designers will have the chance to showcase and sell.

Ali Mehmet CEO Stack_N15 comments: “Stack 15 is going to be the fashion destination in 2018. With FashionCapital’s edgy designers the containers will be more like art installations!”

Jenny Holloway adds: “How can this be! We are a nation of shoppers and the truth is you can’t beat the real deal of shopping. There’s nothing like feeling the handle of the fabric, ensuring the fit is just right for that special occasion. What shoppers want is a real experience! Something exciting and right for them. This is why FashionCapital is opening nine containers at the Stack_N15. We are totally confident of forthcoming retail success!”

Two Experts in One Day!

Next Thursday the 19^th April is one for the diary if you want to hear from two industry heavyweights sharing their insights and expertise. First up is a ‘How To Build a Successful Brand’ masterclass with Caren Downie. This two-hour masterclass will offer masses of advice and expert guidance on what it really takes to run a successful brand, how to build a network of followers, focus on your target market and most importantly generate sales! To book your place click here.

FC Fashion MeetUp #3

Caren’s Masterclass will be swiftly followed by our third FC Fashion MeetUp, a free informal networking event for designers, brands and fashion entrepreneurs to meet, have a drink, network and to hear exclusive insight from a special guest speaker. This time we invite Buying Controller from River Island, Tina Baum, to join our CEO, Jenny Holloway, for the Big Black Sofa Conversation. Tina will impart advice and expertise from her career that spans 38-years.

FC FashionMeetUp #3 takes place Thursday 19th April 2018 from 17.00 to 20.00 Please RSVP to reserve your place: info@fashioncapital.co.uk

Bloggers Get Behind the Seams

Last Friday FashionCapital hosted an insightful ‘Behind the Seams’ on-site event for a group of influential sewing bloggers. The 3-hour event included a tour of FashionCapital HQ and our North London Factory, insight into every stage of the garment production process, a look at digitising patterns using Vetigraph, as well as a hands-on TR pattern cutting session with master cutter Claudette Joseph. Here are some links to blog posts from the day:

Susan Young Sewing Blog

Sew Dainty Blog

TR taster course – 28th April

The sewing bloggers were raving about Claudette Joseph’s TR Pattern Cutting introduction and practical.Read Susan Young’s review here.

Claudette is now offering a taster course on Saturday 28^th April, click here for details and to book your place.

Pattern Grading with Maggie Stott

This 2-day course teaches the basic principles of pattern grading by introducing manual pattern grading for womenswear covering a bodice, skirt, sleeve and trouser with the highly experienced Maggie Stott.

Saturday 14th and 21st April for £130

Why Join the Next Gerber Course?

The second installment of the ‘Gerber for Beginners’ course recently took place so who better to ask than the latest cohort of Gerber learners why the course is essential for them.

Adriana: “I am a professional pattern cutter and seamstress. I work in a sampling studio as head pattern cutter and I also do freelancing on the side. I have 10 years’ experience in the field and I am very passionate. I want to update my computer pattern cutting skills as I studied Lectra system at school but haven’t practised since and I’ve noticed that companies use Gerber rather than Lectra nowadays.”

To read more comments click here

Click here to find out more about the course and book your place

Fabric Swatch of the Week

Tangerine made a regular appearance on the SS18 catwalks worn either as a bold head-to-toe statement or as an accent shade. Here we have a strong Tangerine in a stretch Jersey. This fabric has slightly more stretch than a typical Jersey, as well as a softer feel to the touch, but handles the same way. Available now from theFCFabricStudio.com at £3- a metre.

This Week on FashionCapital.co.uk

Sharing our ethos for ethical production made right here in the UK we talk to bold, seductive lingerie brand Something Wicked

about the importance of handmade, provocative lingerie interlaced with a clear conscience.

Kate Farley takes a look at the selection of luxurious silk scarves that arrived bedecked with retro motifs during the Autumn/Winter 2018/19 fashion week collections.

And Joel Hughes, Head of UK & Europe, Indiegogo discusses how crowdfunding can be a great method of building awareness and a strong fan base.

Lobster Homeware Success

We love it when our learners and clients progress and do well. This week clients’ – Natahlie and Alec from ‘Lobster Homeware’ are pleased to announce that their company and its products will feature on the new Channel 4 programme ‘Buy It Now.’ The series is due to start next Monday 16^th April at 5.30pm.

Alec Cuffy Co-founder of Lobster Homeware Ltd comments: “We appreciate the support that Fashion Enter has given us over the years. With the making of some of the best samples and being able to give us insight into the industry and manufacturing processes.

And Finally…

The Fashion Technology Academy was nominated and won the sewing and design school ‘Favourite School of the Year Award’ on Instagram. To view the post click here!

More from the FashionCapital team next time, until then we wish you a great week.

Image left and header: Amesh SS18

How Do You Know if a Factory is Ethical?

FashionCapital Newsletter

Primary Choir To Uplift and Learn This Fashion Revolution Week